Michigan State hires veteran Colin Johnson as assistant offensive line coach
Johnson was recently named offensive line coach for Ohio and has had stints at Butler, Ball State, Indiana and elsewhere.
Michigan State has hired veteran coach Colin Johnson as assistant offensive line coach, sources tell Spartans Illustrated.
Johnson's hire comes after the departure of Al Netter, who was briefly hired as a senior offensive analyst and assistant offensive line coach for MSU, but ultimately took a job in the NFL as assistant offensive line coach for the New York Jets.
With the Spartans, Johnson will have the opportunity to work under head coach Pat Fitzgerald, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, offensive line coach Nick Tabacca and the rest of the recently-hired staff.
Most recently, Johnson was hired by head coach John Hauser as Ohio's offensive line coach on Jan. 29. However, he will instead coach on Michigan State's staff in 2026.
Prior to Ohio, Johnson worked at the the Football Championship Subdivision level with Butler as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and running backs coach during the 2025 season. This past season, Johnson helped coach and develop two All-Pioneer Football League selections in offensive lineman Charles Mackley (first-team recognition) and wide receiver Ethan Loss (second-team honors).
The 2025 campaign was his third stint with the Bulldogs, as Johnson also served as offensive line coach in 2018 and defensive tackles coach in 2011 for Butler.
Before Butler, Johnson coached at his alma mater, Ball State, from 2019 through 2024. He worked as the running game coordinator and offensive line coach, and also served as interim head coach for Cardinals for the final two games of the 2024 season after the firing of head coach Mike Neu.
While at Ball State, Johnson coached 2020 fifth-round NFL Draft pick Danny Pinter, who was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 149th overall pick. Johnson also mentored four offensive linemen who earned All-Mid-American Conference honors: Corey Stewart (2023), Damon Kaylor (2023), Ethan Crowe (2022) and Curtis Blackwell (2021). Notably, Johnson helped the Cardinals earn a MAC championship during the 2020 season, which was the program's first conference title in 24 years.
Other coaching stops for Johnson include DePauw from 2013 through 2017 (primarily as offensive line coach), The College of Wooster in 2012 (offensive line coach), and Indiana from 2008 through 2010 (special teams quality control coach and an offensive graduate assistant). During his time with the Hoosiers, Johnson helped coach NFL Draft picks Rodger Saffold and James Brewer.
Johnson's coaching career began as an intern at Ball State in 2003. Shortly after that, he coached at the high school level in the Indianapolis area, as Johnson had stints with Warren Central High School and Zionsville High School.
He was a four-year letterwinner at Ball State from 1999 through 2002. Johnson was elected as team captain for the Cardinals in his senior season.
Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Ball State in 2003. He went on to play in the Arena Football League 2 as a member of the Peoria Pirates in 2004.
