Courtesy of UMass Athletics

Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald has finalized a key piece of his inaugural Spartans coaching staff by hiring Mike Bajakian as the program’s new quarterbacks coach. Bajakian arrives in East Lansing after a challenging season as the offensive coordinator at UMass.

The move represents a homecoming for Bajakian, who spent four seasons as Fitzgerald’s offensive coordinator at Northwestern from 2020 to 2023. By taking the position at Michigan State, Bajakian returns to the Power Four level and reunites with a head coach who clearly values his experience and long-standing professional relationship.

The departure from UMass comes on the heels of a difficult 2025 campaign for the Minutemen. Under Bajakian’s direction, the UMass offense struggled significantly, finishing the season ranked last in the FBS in total offense and scoring. The team’s winless 0-12 record led to an immediate need for reorganization in Amherst, and Bajakian’s move to the Big Ten provides a fresh start for both the coach and the UMass program.

For the Minutemen, Bajakian’s exit marks the beginning of a search for a new offensive coordinator. First order of business for Joe Harasymiak is to find a coordinator who can develop the quarterback position. The second most important thing will be to find someone who is willing to establish a physical run game but also strike a balance in terms of getting playmakers the ball in space.

Harasymiak thought he had that with Bajakian but unfortunately it did not work out for the Minutemen.

Harasymiak has long standing ties in the world of college football so I would expect him to make a hire soon. Whoever does get the job will need to field an offense that is far more productive statistically than last season. UMass ranked No. 134 out of 134 FBS teams in scoring offense, yards per game and touchdowns. The Minutemen scored just 11.1 points per game and scored 15 touchdowns all season. They also ranked No. 132 in red zone offense, scoring points on just 65% of their trips inside the 20-yard line. Bottom line, the Minutemen cannot be as bad as they were last season.

The new portal window will open on Jan. 2, and remain open through Jan. 16. The Minutemen will be in the market for at least two quarterbacks but they will need to address the rest of the offense as well with 21 players have transferred out thus far. Replacing A.J Hairston and Grant Jordan will be priority one. Will Perry, Zach Lawrence and freshman Aedan McCarthy are the only quarterbacks on the roster as of today.

Expect Harasymiak to make a hire in the next week or so.