Michigan State’s football program has a head coach opening and Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is among the names being “kicked around the athletic department” as potential candidates to fill the job, according to a report from David Jesse of the Detroit Free Press.
Shurmur served as the Giants’ head coach from 2018-2019 and he just had his introductory press conference in Denver last week. KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis reported Monday that “Shurmur is on Spartan’s radar but it appears he’s all in” with the Broncos.
Shurmur played on the offensive line and spent a little time at linebacker when he attended Michigan State. He then served as a graduate assistant with the Spartans for two years and then spent time as the school’s tight ends, offensive line and special teams coach from 1990-1997.
During his introductory press conference on Feb. 6, Shurmur was asked if he has a desire to be a head coach again in the NFL (that was before reports emerged about his candidacy at Michigan State).
“I have the desire to be the offensive coordinator here,” Shurmur said. “I think what happens with those settings is typically if you’re doing a really good job where you’re at and somebody think you can provide the vision for their organization, they come tap you on the shoulder.
“Until that time, you just worry about doing the job you have.”
Given that Shurmur just recently joined Denver’s staff, it seems unlikely that he would leave the team to coach college football. That’s not out of the realm of possibility, though, so Michigan State’s coaching search bears watching in the coming weeks.
