Mark Dantonio announces changes to Michigan State coaching staff

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From San Diego, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press / LSJ MSU beat writer Chris Solari analyze the Spartans' 42-17 Holiday Bowl win over Washington State and what it means for MSU going forward. Graham Couch / Lansing State Journal

LANSING – Mark Dantonio said Friday he has filled one of the three open assistant jobs on Michigan State’s football staff and made official another promotion.

Dantonio said Paul Haynes signed a contract to become the Spartans’ new defensive backs coach. Haynes was fired after five seasons as Kent State’s head coach in November, and former MSU assistant Don Treadwell was Haynes’ offensive coordinator with the Golden Flashes.

MSU also is promoting Mike Tressel to full-time defensive coordinator after he sharing since 2015. Harlon Barnett, who was co-coordinator with Tressel and defensive backs coach with the Spartans, took the defensive coordinator position at Florida State earlier this month. Tressel will remain as MSU’s linebackers coach along with his promotion.

Dantonio said he hopes to have the other two positions finalized and filled by the middle of next week. MSU lost defensive ends coach Mark Snyder to Florida State with Barnett, and the NCAA is allowing schools to add a 10th coach to their staffs this year.

Also, Dantonio said true freshman linebacker Lashawn Paulino-Bell has left MSU and intends to transfer to a junior college.

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Though the schedule is tentative, Dantonio expects to start spring workouts just after signing day on Feb. 7. He hopes to have the spring game on April 7. Dantonio said he is pushing for it to be a night game under the new lights at Spartan Stadium, which would be a first.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!