Michigan State reportedly hires Ross Els as special teams coordinator

More reinforcements for Mel Tucker’s first coaching staff are on their way from Boulder, Colorado.

According to Colorado bear reporter Brian Howell, Colorado linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Ross Els will be going the Michigan State staff.

I've had sources confirm to me that #cubuffs LB coach Ross Els is heading to Michigan State. @adamcm777 first reported Els was leaving. It appears he'll coach special teams at MSU; not sure if he'll be on defense, too

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) February 21, 2020

As Howell alludes to their are still roles to be sorted out among the defense–most notably with former MSU defensive coordinator Mike Tressel whose role has yet to be publicly announced–but Els looks to be headed for the special teams coordinator role.

Els was the special teams coordinator under Tucker in 2019 and Colorado improved form 89th in special teams SP+ in 2018 to 43rd in 2019. Els was also ran special teams for Nebraska from 2012-2014 and those years the Cornhuskers finished 32nd, 8th, and 51st in special teams SP+.

Els has also coached special teams at New Mexico and Ohio University, in addition to being the defensive coordinator at Purdue in 2016.