Michigan State Hires Former Texas A&M DC Mark Snyder, Dantonio’s Colleague from Ohio State

UPDATE: MSU announces Snyder hired as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has reportedly made his pick to fill a vacancy on his defensive staff.

MSU will hire Mark Synder as a defensive assistant, Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman reported Thursday. Snyder most recently served as Texas A&M's defensive coordinator but was fired in November as the Aggies' defensive had consistently ranked at the bottom of the SEC in several major statistical categories in recent seasons.

Snyder will fill the spot vacated by former MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who left to take over at Pitt. Dantonio immediately promoted secondary coach Harlon Barnett and linebackers coach Mike Tressel to the roles of co-defensive coordinator. Snyder's specific duties will be related to the defensive front seven as well as special teams, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Snyder was linebackers coach at Ohio State from 2001 to 2003, when Dantonio was the Buckeye's defensive coordinator. When Dantonio left Columbus in 2004 to take over at Cincinnati, Snyder was promoted to defensive coordinator. The next year, Snyder was hired as head coach at Marshall.

Snyder resigned from Marshall after going 22-37 in five seasons. Next, he was South Florida's defensive coordinator in 2010 and 2011.

Earlier in his career, Snyder served on Jim Tressel's defensive staff at Youngstown State from 1991 to 1996.