Longhorns Country

Texas Football Hires Former Michigan State Defensive Coordinator

The Texas Longhorns are making a defensive addition to Steve Sarkisian’s coaching staff. 

Matt Galatzan

Michigan State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton watches a play against Akron during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
Michigan State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton watches a play against Akron during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Texas Longhorns are adding knowledge and experience to the defensive staff as the team heads to the SEC.

Per college football reporter Bruce Feldman, Texas is hiring former Michigan State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton as a special assistant for next season. 

"SOURCES: Texas is hiring Scottie Hazelton as a special assistant,” Feldman tweeted. "Hazelton joins the Longhorns after recently serving as Michigan State’s DC along with previous DC stops at K-State, Wyoming and NDSU where they won the 2011 FCS national title.”

Hazelton, 50, was a linebackers coach at USC in 2012 before being hired as the defensive coordinator at Nevada. He then spent three seasons in the NFL as an assistant linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to the college ranks to become the defensive coordinator at Wyoming in 2017 and ’18. After one year at Kansas State in 2019, he joined Michigan State in 2020, where he had coached for the past four seasons. 

While Steve Sarkisian will continue to lead what should once again be a strong offense next season, Hazelton will aid defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. 

The Texas secondary was arguably the worst-performing unit on what was a deep roster last season, as the unit surrendered the fifth-most passing yards per game in the Big 12 (240.8) despite the defense as a whole allowing the fewest rushing yards (80.8) and points per game (17.5) in the conference. 

Texas’ defense will get its first chance to shine when the Longhorns host the Colorado State Rams for the season opener on Saturday, Aug. 31 in Austin.

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Matt Galatzan

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration.  Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network.  When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later.  Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered.  Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys.  You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

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