For the past few days, we’ve been posting about the imminent additions to Jonathan Smith’s staff at Oregon State. But today, Oregon State athletics officially announced the hires of six new coaches.
#BeaverNation, help me welcome these great coaches to our @BeaverFootball team! I'm excited to surround our players with outstanding men! #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/nxha40Ajhk
— Jonathan Smith (@coachsmith_9) December 7, 2017
Here’s how the list shakes out:
- Jim Michalczik - Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach/Associate Head Coach
- Mike Riley - Assistant Head Coach
- Brian Lindgren - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
- Jake Cookus - Special Teams Coordinator
- Mike Mcdonald - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Dan Van De Riet - Chief of Staff/Director of Football Operations
Michalczik comes over from Arizona, where he was the O-Line coach for the last five years. Michalczik was also an assistant at OSU during the 1999, 2000, and 2001 seasons coaching the offensive line and tight ends. Arizona’s rushing attack has been particularly impressive during his time there with the line paving the way for greats like Ka’Deem Carey and Khalil Tate.
Fans may or not remember that Mike Riley was the head coach at Oregon State once upon a time (1997-1998, 2003-2014). He and Jonathan Smith also have something of a personal history, so it makes sense that he’s involved in this staff in some capacity.
For anyone not familiar with the backstory, Mike Riley gave Jonathan Smith the chance to walk-on at Oregon State in 1997 and had Smith on his staff as a grad assistant in 2003.
— Danny Moran (@DannyJMoran) December 7, 2017
I think a lot of us thought Riley would be involved as a consultant, but looks like he’s officially an assistant. Early impression is that Riley will be heavily involved in the recruiting process.
"Current and former players thriving in the NFL and in life are proof of Coach Riley's tremendous ability to recruit outstanding young men," Smith said. "He understands what it takes to win in this conference, and how to evaluate and develop student-athletes. There is no one better to have represent OSU in the homes of recruits as we build this program." — OSU Athletics
Lindgren comes over from Colorado where he was since 2013. The Buffs won the 2016 Pac-12 South title thanks in large part to Lindgren’s offense that was much improved from years past. In particular, Lindgren has a history of developing quarterbacks (the position he played at Idaho from 2001-2003). That could be good news for this Beaver offense that was ninth in passing offense in 2017.
Cookus was a special teams quality control coach under Gary Andersen at OSU the past two years. He’s now been promoted to special teams coordinator. He played safety for OSU from 1998 to 2001. His career has also included stops at Hawaii, Montana, Weber State, Kentucky, and Southern Oregon.
McDonald was on Chris Peterson’s staff at Washington with Jonathan Smith prior to this. Before that, he was a strength coach at Boise State, Wazzu, and Purdue (where he played).
Van De Riet first came to Oregon State in 2001 as the assistant director of football operations. He was promoted to director of football operations in 2008. Then in 2014, DVD was promoted again to an associate athletic director position at OSU.
That same year, he followed Mike Riley to Nebraska where he has been the Husker's Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration ever since.
What are your thoughts on these hires, Beaver Nation? Is Mike Riley being back at OSU a good move? Regardless, this tweet is pretty funny.
Mike Riley is like that ex-boyfriend your parents still ask about because they liked him so much, even though he wasn’t the right guy for you
— Macey (@MaceyMathis11) November 30, 2017