Ferris State defensive line coach Tesfa Smith is expected to take the same job on Matt Drinkall's new Central Michigan staff, sources told FootballScoop on Tuesday.
Smith spent a decade on Tony Annese's Ferris State staff, where he played a key part in the Bulldogs becoming the premier program in Division II. With Smith on staff, Ferris State snapped a 19-year playoff victory drought in 2015, reached the Division II semifinals for the second time in program history in 2016, played for its first D2 title in 2018, and, finally, broke through with national championships in 2021, '22, and '24.
Prior to Ferris State, Smith spent seven seasons as the D-line coach at Saginaw Valley State, and also served as the defensive coordinator at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill.
He now joins a Central Michigan defensive staff led by coordinator and linebackers coach Sean Cronin, with safeties coach Wes Fleming and cornerbacks coach Christian Dukes.
In addition to defensive line, Drinkall has not announced a wide receivers coach on his new Chips staff.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.