Michigan State Director of Player Engagement Kurt Richardson retained by Pat Fitzgerald
This is the third different coaching regime Fitzgerald will work under at MSU.
Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald is retaining Kurt Richardson, who works as the program's director of player engagement, sources tell Spartans Illustrated.
This is the third different coaching regime that Richardson will work under at Michigan State. He was originally hired in August of 2023 under then-head coach Mel Tucker. After Tucker's firing in September of 2023, Michigan State hired Jonathan Smith as head coach in late November of 2023. Richardson was retained by Smith. However, Smith was fired on Nov. 30, 2025. One day later, MSU hired Fitzgerald as the program's 27th head coach on Dec. 1, 2025. Now, Richardson will work under Fitzgerald.
According to his Michigan State bio, Richardson's role is "strategically designed to help recruit and retain student-athletes by enhancing the overall player experience through comprehensive player development initiatives."
Richardson brings immense value to the MSU student-athletes, which is evident in the fact that multiple staffs have kept him in East Lansing. As director of player engagement, Richardson coordinates every aspect of the player development program, mentors current Spartans and finds opportunities for the MSU players off of the field, including after their playing days are over as he helps Spartans seek professional employment. Additionally, his job includes alumni engagement efforts, career networking, university outreach and community service.
A Lansing, Michigan native, Richardson is the founder of Encore Athletix. In addition to his experience at the college level, Richardson has worked with numerous NFL teams — including the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams — helping facilitate player development opportunities for professional athletes outside of football.
In total, Richardson's expertise in player development and player engagement has reached more than 1,000 NCAA student-athletes and more than 500 professional athletes through collaborations with the NCAA Career in Sports forum, NFL Player Engagement and ESPN’s Black Sports Symposium.
Richardson has assisted numerous NFL players and NCAA student-athletes in obtaining jobs, internships and shadows outside of the playing field.
He has also been praised by various recruits for his vision for their development and future beyond football, and has played a role in securing commitments and signees from both high school and the transfer portal for the Spartans. He played a crucial role in helping Michigan State secure the No. 12-ranked transfer portal class in 2024 and the No. 28-ranked portal class in 2025.
Outside of MSU, Richardson was also elected to the Lansing Board of Education in 2022. Additionally, he works as the Pathway to Success Mentorship Facilitator for the Los Angeles Rams.
A graduate of Thomas Edison State University with a bachelor’s degree in management, Richardson has also received a master’s degree in strategic communication from Michigan State, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
