Pat Fitzgerald set to add Wake Forest OL architect Nick Tabacca to his Spartan staff
The longtime Demon Deacons offensive line coach is expected to join MSU, bringing a decade of ACC production, elite player development, and proven line-building to East Lansing.
New Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald has moved quickly to assemble his coaching staff in East Lansing, and a major piece is falling into place up front.
Sources have confirmed to Spartans Illustrated’s Ryan O’Bleness that Fitzgerald is expected to hire Nick Tabacca, the longtime offensive line coach at Wake Forest. Tabacca’s official title at Michigan State Spartans football has not yet been finalized, but he is expected to coach the offensive line and could take on additional responsibilities. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports first reported the expected move.
When finalized, the hire would bring to East Lansing one of the most accomplished offensive line developers in the ACC over the past decade.
Tabacca was a central figure in Wake Forest’s offensive transformation under then-head coach Dave Clawson. Under this leadership, the Demon Deacons have rewritten their record book, setting nearly 400 school records for scoring, yards, first downs, and passing production.
That offensive output was built on consistent protection and development up front, where Tabacca’s units allowed prolific passing numbers while also producing multiple 2,000-yard rushing seasons.
Under Tabacca’s leadership, Wake Forest rushed for more than 2,000 yards in four of his last seven seasons and recorded 145 rushing touchdowns from 2017 through 2024, one of the most productive stretches in school history.
The 2021 season marked a historic peak. Wake Forest scored a program-record 574 points (41.0 points per game), becoming just the 20th ACC team in the modern era to eclipse 500 points in a season. The Deacons topped 35 points in 12 games that year, a feat matched by only a handful of teams nationally during the College Football Playoff era.
Tabacca’s résumé is also defined by individual player development:
Michael Jurgens, a Phil Steele All-American and 2024 NFL Draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, graded as the highest-rated Power-5 interior lineman by Pro Football Focus (83.7) after transitioning from center to guard under Tabacca.
Zach Tom, a fourth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2021, earned First Team All-ACC and All-America honors while becoming a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
Tabacca has coached four All-ACC offensive linemen in a single season three separate times, something achieved only three times in Wake Forest history.
Additionally, Tabacca coached Matt Gulbin at Wake Forest. Gulbin transferred to Michigan State in 2025, and was a team captain and honorable mention All-Big Ten selection for the Spartans under then-head coach Jonathan Smith and then offensive line coach/run game coordinator Jim Michalczik.
Across multiple seasons, his lines combined physical run blocking with elite pass protection, enabling both balanced offenses and record-setting aerial attacks.
For Fitzgerald, Tabacca represents a proven builder with deep experience developing offensive fronts without elite recruiting advantages — a profile that aligns with Michigan State’s immediate needs as it works to stabilize and modernize its roster.
Tabacca also brings leadership experience. He was promoted to Assistant Head Coach for Offense at Wake Forest following spring practice in 2024, reflecting the trust placed in him within Clawson’s program.
A Columbus, Ohio native, Tabacca is a 2004 graduate of Ball State, where he was a four-year letterman and team captain on the offensive line. He has coaching stops at Ball State, Butler, and Defiance College, steadily rising before his long tenure at Wake Forest. Tabacca and his wife, Alyssa, have five children: Sophia, Lucas, Lily, Grace, and William.
When finalized, the hire will give Michigan State a coach with a long track record of turning offensive line rooms into developmental engines, an essential step as Fitzgerald begins shaping the Spartans’ next chapter in East Lansing.
