J Batt, Kevin Guskiewicz comment on Jonathan Smith firing in release

On Sunday, Michigan State made a program altering decision, firing Jonathan Smith after two seasons at the helm in East Lansing.

That decision came from athletic director J Batt, and was supported by president Kevin Guskiewicz. The two released a press release on the matter.

"The 2025 football season has not lived up to our shared standards for Michigan State Football. While that does not fall solely on Jonathan Smith, it's become necessary to make a coaching change in order to chart a new direction for the program," said Batt. "We are appreciative of Coach Smith and the manner in which he represented Michigan State with class. Throughout a difficult season, the team continued to compete. While their efforts ultimately didn't result in enough on-field success, they do speak highly for their character."

Joining Batt, Guskiewicz also spoke highly of Smith, but mentioned the need for a change.

"This was not an easy decision to make," said Guskiewicz "I want to thank Coach Jonathan Smith for his service to Michigan State University and for his commitment to our student-athletes.  He is a man of very high integrity and I wish him success in his future endeavors. We will continue to support our players and staff during this transition and future of Spartan Football."

While mentioning the change, and there being a new leader of Michigan State coming, there was no mention of a national coaching search gearing up to take place, which is normally a common practice in these kind of press releases.

Batt concluded, sharing that they hold the football program to the highest standard and are going to do whatever it takes to get back to that point for the fan base.

"Michigan State football has a proud history, a history that includes National Championships, Rose Bowl victories, Big Ten Championships, and a College Football Playoff appearance," continued Batt. "The standards for our program have not changed. It is our expectation that we compete for championships."

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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: J Batt, Kevin Guskiewicz comment on Jonathan Smith firing in release