Former Spartan great Max Bullough to return to East Lansing as linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator

The new Michigan State football staff under head coach Pat Fitzgerald continues to take shape. This time, a friendly face is returning to campus as former Spartans linebacker Max Bullough has accepted the position of linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator, sources tell Spartans Illustrated.

Bullough is expected to work closely with recently retained defensive coordinator Joe Rossi. Rossi is expected to still handle defensive play-calling duties.

Bullough originally hails from Traverse City, Michigan where he attended St. Francis High School. The Bullough family name appears frequently in Michigan State football history. Max's grandfather, Hank Bullough, played guard and linebacker for the Spartans from 1951 to 1954 and served as an assistant coach from 1959 to 1969 and again briefly in 1994. Max's uncle, Chuck Bullough, also played linebacker for Michigan State from 1988 to 1991 and served on the coaching staff in 1997 to 1998 and again in 2019.

Max's father, Shane Bullough, played at Michigan State from 1983 to 1986. Max's two younger brothers, Riley Bullough and Byron Bullough, also donned the Green and White from 2013 to 2018, collectively.

Max Bullough had an illustrious four-year career as the middle linebacker for Michigan State from 2010 to 2013. He was honored with multiple All-Big Ten honors, including being named as a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in his senior season of 2013. Max Bullough also was named as a third-team All-America selection by multiple publications in his final year. He was a two-time captain, including in 2013 when the Spartans defeated No. 2 Ohio State to win the Big Ten Championship and No. 4 Stanford to win the Rose Bowl.

Max Bullough went on to play for the Houston Texans in the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He played in a total of 30 NFL games and started four games for the Texans from 2014 to 2016. After a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2018, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati in 2019.

He then served as a graduate assistant on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama from 2020 to 2022, and during that time, the Crimson Tide played in two national title games, winning one of them (in 2020). Max Bullough made the move to Notre Dame in 2023 where he also served as a graduate assistant. One year later, he was promoted to the position of linebacker coach for the Fighting Irish for the 2024 season. He had that same role in 2025.

In his first year in South Bend, Max Bullough helped lead Notre Dame to the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff where the Irish made it all the way to the national championship game before falling to Ohio State. The 2024 Notre Dame defense was ranked in the top-12 nationally in several statistical categories, including turnovers (first), defensive touchdowns (first), passing yards allowed (fourth), scoring defense (fourth), interceptions (fifth) and total defense (11th).

During his time with Alabama and Notre Dame, Max Bullough coached five linebackers who went on to be drafted in the NFL, including All-American, SEC Defensive Players of the Year, and first-round round NFL Draft Pick Will Anderson.

Max Bullough becomes the third confirmed member of Fitzgerald's growing staff and is the first known coach to join that staff who is not a carryover from the Jonathan Smith staff. Max Bullough is joined by Rossi and James Adams. In addition to his role as defensive coordinator, Rossi previously coached the linebackers for MSU under Smith, while Adams joined MSU in 2025 to coach the safeties. With Max Bullough expected to coach the linebackers, it is possible that Rossi will now coach safeties, while Adams slides over to coach cornerbacks, or it is possible that Rossi just focuses on the defense as a whole and does not coach a specific position group. Official positions from the Michigan State football program are yet to be announced.

Additionally, John Brice of FootballScoop.com reports that Max Bullough is expected to take Notre Dame's Tre Reader with him to MSU as assistant linebackers coach.