ATHLETIC TRAINING - Key Persons
Aaron Pflugrad is in his first season at Michigan State as an offensive analyst.
Pflugrad spent the previous nine seasons at Northern Arizona (2015-23), including the last six years as the offensive coordinator for the Lumberjacks. He was NAU's wide receivers coach his first three years in Flagstaff before getting elevated to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach ( Distance ) Head Men 's Cross Country Coach
Aaron Simoneau joined the MSU cross country and track & field programs as a full-time assistant coach in December of 2014. He enters his tenth season with the Spartans in 2023-24.
Simoneau's primary coaching responsibilities include working with the MSU distance runners, while also serving as recruiting coordinator.
In his nine seasons with Michigan State in a full-time capacity, Simoneau has helped coach fourteen cross country All-Americans, including most recently Katie Osika, a graduate student who earned the honor of its kind for the first time in her career in 2022.
Since the 2015 cross country season, Simoneau has coached 20 men's and 25 women's cross country runners to Great Lakes All-Region accolades, in addition to the 12 men and 19 women who have earned All-Big Ten honors.
Simoneau has been part of the coaching staff that has helped lead the women's cross country team to three Big Ten titles in 2019, 2020, and 2022 while they've been on the podium in seven of the eight seasons during his time with the team. He has also aided the women's Great Lakes Regional Championship in 2019 and the men's in 2017 to earn automatic bids to the NCAA Cross Country Championships. At the 2020 NCAA Championships, the Spartan women raced to a fourth-place finish, which was the highest finish since the team won the title in 2014. On the men's side, the 17th place finsih at the NCAA Championship was the program's best since 2006.
One of the brightest stars who shined under Simoneau's guidance was Morgan Beadlescomb, a 10-time All-American, between cross country plus indoor and outdoor track who was twice an NCAA runner-up, three-time Big Ten Champion in track distance events and 2022 Great Lakes Region Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. The likely future Spartan Hall-of-famer currently runs professionally for Adidas. Another bright spot on the men's side has been John Petruno, a two-time All-American, sub-four minute miler, and multiple-time Big Ten medalist.
On the track, Simoneau has become an integral part in mentoring the distance runners and coaching them to the NCAA Finals.
Since joining the staff for the 2014-15 track and field seasons, Simoneau has guided 10 Big Ten Champions on the men's side and 17 on the women's side in distance-related events. He has also aided in the success of 28 men's All-Americans and 15 women's All-Americans.
Job Titles:
- Title / Partner Services Manager
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Development
World Series champion Adam Eaton is entering his second season on the Spartan staff as the program's director of player development in 2024.
Michigan State baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. announced on Sept. 14, 2022 about Eaton joining the MSU staff.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Trainer ( M & W Cross Country / Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field )
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Title / Assistant Coach
Andrew Stone was promoted to assistant coach from volunteer assistant coach on July 1, 2023. Stone joined Michigan State baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr.'s staff on Aug. 23, 2021 as the volunteer assistant coach.
Stone works with the Spartan infielders and hitters.
In 2023, Stone helped the MSU defense lead the Big Ten in runners caught stealing with 25. At the plate, Stone worked with the Spartan hitters, as MSU led not just the B1G, but the NCAA in triples with 30 in 2023, marking the second-straight season in leading the B1G.
Stone came to MSU after two years as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Kalamazoo College. He played five seasons at Western Michigan (2015-19), under former Michigan State assistant coach Billy Gernon.
"We're excited to add Andrew Stone to our coaching staff. He's very detail oriented, and a hard worker, who's got a very bright future in coaching ahead of him," Boss said. "He played for former Michigan State assistant Billy Gernon at Western Michigan, and he brings a wealth of knowledge, both from the Division I level as a player, and he has a unique experience with being able to recruit coming from Kalamazoo College."
Stone worked with the Kalamazoo offense and infielders.
"I'd like to thank Coach Boss for trusting and allowing me to join his staff, and I'm excited to join a great Spartan baseball coaching staff. I look forward to pursuing championship-caliber level baseball alongside them," Stone said.
During his two seasons at Kalamazoo, Stone helped the Hornets to their second-highest win total in school history with 25 wins in 2021. Stone also helped the Kalamazoo offense to five school records in 2021, for runs (313), RBI (267), doubles (84), triples (20), home runs (23), while posting No. 2 marks in school history for hits (409) and batting average (.327).
In his five seasons at Western Michigan under Coach Gernon, Stone was a three-year starter at infield and designated hitter. For his career, Stone finished with a .304 average with a .402 on-base percentage in 155 games played, making 104 starts. Stone helped WMU to the 2016 MAC Tournament title and helped the Broncos advance to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1989.
Stone was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete. He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Western Michigan in 2018, and his master's degree also in sports management from WMU in 2019.
A native of Portage, Michigan, Stone's father is Jeff Stone, Western Michigan's Senior Associate Athletic Director, overseeing academic and compliance services, and also was a pitcher at Alma College.
In 12 seasons as the head coach of the men's golf program at his alma mater, Casey Lubahn has guided the team to both conference and national prominence. Entering his 13th season at helm, the Spartans have been represented in each of the last seven NCAA Tournaments and won at least one tournament in 10 of his 11 complete seasons of competition.
Lubahn was announced as the 10th head coach in Spartan men's golf history on June 30, 2011 after spending three seasons as head coach of Miami University.
Lubahn has led MSU to 14 tournament titles during his tenure, tied for the most by any coach in program history. Individually under Lubahn's leadership, Spartans have earned PING All-Region honors on 13 occasions and Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar accolades 17 times.
The greatest individual achievement by a Spartan in program history came under Lubahn's tutelage in August 2021 when James Piot won the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship. Piot, who garnered PING All-America honorable mention in 2021, became the first Spartan and first player from the State of Michigan to win the U.S. Amateur title.
Lubahn has been at the forefront of an aggressive fundraising effort while at MSU, having helped raise more than $15 million for the program. This includes funds for the state-of-the art Lasch Family Golf Center, completed in 2016, as well as endowments, operational expenses and other facility improvements.
The program's rise has also been aided by bringing some of the most talented players in the state of Michigan to East Lansing. Under Lubahn, seven of the last 12 Michigan High School Mr. Golf winners have come to Michigan State.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Instructor
- Title / Assistant Coach
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
"I'm very happy to have Chad join us full-time as a coach with our program," Lubahn said. "Chad is a terrific instructor and has a long history of success as a player that will be valuable for the players on our team. He has been a part of our program's success over the last few years, knows and has worked with everyone on our roster and I think he will be a great addition."
Chad Kurmel was named assistant coach for the Michigan State men's golf program in July 2022.
Kurmel has been a PGA Professional for more than 20 years and was named "Best In-State" instructor by Golf Digest from 2019-22.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Associate Head Coach
- Title / Associate Head Coach
Former Spartan golfer Dan Ellis was named the program's new assistant coach on April 29, 2014 and was promoted to associate head coach on July 1, 2018.
Over his six seasons with the Spartans, Ellis has helped mentor seven All-Big Ten selections and 10 All-America Scholars. The Spartans have earned NCAA Tournament bids four consecutive seasons from 2016-19, which is the best NCAA streak in program history. Additionally, MSU has captured a tournament win each full season of Ellis' tenure.
Ellis, who graduated from MSU in 2013, spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina University. The Chanticleers finished third at the 2014 Big South Championship, led by junior Ben Wheeler earning individual medalist honors. Three different Coastal Carolina golfers posted top-five individual finishes that season.
Ellis, a native of Negaunee, Michigan, ended his Spartan playing career 11th on the all-time scoring list with a 75.0 stroke average. As a junior, he was the 12th Spartan to earn PING All-Midwest Region honors, qualified for the 2012 NCAA Central Regional as an individual, earned All-Big Ten Championship recognition after finishing fifth and posted the ninth-best single-season scoring average of 73.06. His career-low rounds were a pair of 66s, which are good for sixth on the MSU 18-hole scoring list. Ellis was second on the team in stroke average as a sophomore and senior.
Ellis had tremendous success both on and off the course, becoming just one of four Spartans to be a two-time Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar (2012, 2013), in addition to being a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He was also the team's captain as a senior.
Along with his coaching career, Ellis has enjoyed a decorated amateur golf career. He has qualified for five USGA Championships (2007 U.S. Junior Amateur, 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links, 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2015 U.S. Amateur, 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur). In the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur, he advanced to the Round of 16, losing to the eventual champion Lucas Michel. His efforts in the event led to him being named the 2019 Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year.
In 2018, he missed qualifying for the U.S. Open by two strokes, taking eighth at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying at Springfield Country Club in Ohio. Also in 2018, he took second in the Michigan Amateur and fifth at the Golf Association of Michigan Championship.
Ellis paired with MSU Men's Golf Volunteer Coach Chad Kurmel to win the 2020 Michigan State Pro-Am. Ellis was the 2016 Lansing All-City Champion and won the 2017 GAM Four-Ball title. The Michigan native also won the 2008 and 2012 Upper Peninsula Golf Association Championship.
Graham Sikes is entering his 15th season as an assistant coach for the Michigan State baseball program in 2024. He also serves as the program's recruiting coordinator.
Sikes primarily works with the Spartan outfielders and hitters, while also coordinating the base running program. Sikes also is the third base coach during MSU's games.
Jake Boss Jr. was appointed the 16th head coach in Michigan State baseball history on July 1, 2008, and has quickly become one of the most successful coaches in the program's 130-year history.
In 15 seasons at MSU, Boss has compiled a 416-354 (.540) record. His 416 wins are not only the most over a 15-year span in program history, but he also become the third Michigan State baseball coach to reach 400 Victories for MSU, earning his 400th win in the Spartans' 7-1 Victory for MSU over Ohio State on April 7 at Jackson Field in Lansing. Boss joined John H. Kobs (576 wins; 1935-63) and Danny Litwhiler (489 wins; 1964-82) as the only Spartan baseball head coaches with 400 wins at Michigan State.
Five of the 10 winningest seasons in MSU history have come under Boss' direction. He has guided the Spartans to 30-win seasons in eight of the last 13 completed seasons, as well as the Big Ten regular-season championship in 2011 and the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
Overall, Boss collected career win No. 400 on April 24, 2022 in the Spartans' 11-7 Victory for MSU at Northwestern, and has a 441-388 (.532) record in 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach, with 416 wins in his 15 seasons at MSU (2009-pres.), and 25 wins in his lone season at Eastern Michigan (2008).
During Boss' tenure at Michigan State, MSU has had 38 selections in the Major League Baseball Draft, including three or more in seven of the last 12 years. Three Spartans were drafted in 2023, marking the first time that MSU had three draft selections in the same draft since 2019, with Mitch Jebb (2nd round, Pittsburgh Pirates), Brock Vradenburg (3rd round, Miami Marlins) and Bryan Broecker (13th round, Tampa Bay Rays).
James Piot had a breakout rookie campaign as he became the first Spartan since 2005 to be voted Big Ten Freshman of the Year.