“I’m excited to announce the promotion of offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Kapilovic to assistant head coach,” Michigan State football Head Coach Mel Tucker said in a release. “I believe Kap is among the best offensive line coaches in the country, college or pro. He not only puts a premium on technique and fundamentals but also is an excellent motivator who is extremely passionate about the game of football.”

“He understands the culture and goals of this program and is determined to get the best out of each and every player, every single day. He is a relentless and effective recruiter, and I feel very fortunate to have him as a true leader on our staff,” Tucker said.

Coach Kapilovic in his one year with the Spartans was instrumental in bringing in recruits for his unit on the football field, bringing in multiple offensive line recruits including the number one offensive lineman in New Jersey in Geno VanDeMark and local East Lansing offensive lineman Ethan Boyd.

While the Spartans thrived in recruiting battles, they struggled on the field this season on the ground as the Spartans running back room was not able to punch it into the endzone one time this season as only quarterback Payton Thorne and tight end Tyler Hunt were able to do so this season. However, Kapilovic has a track record of great success in other places like North Carolina where he oversaw two top ten scoring offenses in the FBS in 2012 and 2015.

That success is something Kapilovic said as the season came to a close is possible in East Lansing.

“These guys want to get better, they come to work every day, I think they’re hungry and they see that they can improve,” Kapilovic said. “That’s encouraging, that excites you as a coach to come every day and have another opportunity to get better on the practice field and take it into Saturday. We should ... improve through this season and through this offseason."

“There’s a long way to go, but I really believe that we can get there.”

Coach Tucker and Michigan state football are likely not done making changes in the staff with safeties coach Mike Tressel reportedly heading to Cincinnati to become the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator, however, Cincinnati has not confirmed Tressel's hire as of yet.

Michigan State’s first game of 2021 is scheduled for Sept. 4 at Northwestern, who the Spartans ran for a season-high 195 yards on in their one of only two wins on the season in 2020.