Michigan State adds Travis Russell as assistant running backs coach; more on Dominic Spalding
Pat Fitzgerald continues to fill out his 2026 MSU staff. More on Russell, a Michigan native, and assistant WRs coach Dom Spalding, here.
Michigan State has hired Travis Russell as assistant running backs coach, sources tell Spartans Illustrated.
At MSU, Russell will work under head coach Pat Fitzgerald, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, running backs coach Devon Spalding and the rest of the MSU staff.
He will assist Spalding in a running backs room that includes Cam Edwards, Marvis Parrish, Jaziun Patterson, Brandon Tullis, Jace Clarizio, Zion Gist, Kenneth Williams, Jaxon McCaig, Darrin Jones Jr. and Cedric Williams Jr.
Russell most recently worked as a quarterbacks assistant coach with Michigan in 2025.
Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Massachusetts for three seasons from 2022 through 2024. Russell served as a graduate assistant and analyst for the Minutemen.
Before arriving at UMass, Russell coached at his alma mater, Ferris State, in 2021 as slot receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan native began his coaching career in his hometown. He worked as quarterbacks coach for Grand Rapids Union High School in 2020 and 2021.
Russell played quarterback for the Bulldogs under head coach Tony Annese from 2016 through 2019. He completed 205 out of 392 passing attempts (52.3%) for 3,058 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,129 yards and 11 additional touchdowns.
More on assistant wide receivers coach Dominic Spalding
As Spartans Illustrated previously reported, Michigan State hired Dominic Spalding as assistant wide receivers in January of 2026. However, we will use this space to provide more information on the Michigan native.
Dominic Spalding is the younger brother of aforementioned MSU running backs coach Devon Spalding, and the two have a tight-knit relationship.
With the Spartans, he will work under Fitzgerald, Sheridan and wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, while getting the opportunity to be on the same staff as his brother.
Dominic Spalding most recently served as an analyst and assistant wide receivers coach at Notre Dame in 2025. While with the Fighting Irish, he was on the same staff as Max Bullough, who currently serves as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Spartans.
Prior to his time in South Bend, Dominic Spalding worked at Northwestern and Youngstown State.
