EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State has hired Mark Snyder as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.

The school announced Snyder’s addition Friday. He was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M before being fired in November.

Michigan State lost defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi recently when he became the head coach at Pittsburgh. Linebackers coach Mike Tressel and secondary coach Harlon Barnett were promoted to co-defensive coordinator roles.

Snyder has worked with Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio before. He was the linebackers coach at Ohio State from 2001-03 while Dantonio was the defensive coordinator.

Ohio State won the national championship in 2002.

“The one thing about coach Dantonio that has always stood out to me is that he’s so competitive and such a fundamentalist,” said Snyder.

“I had a chance to work with him for three years at Ohio State and learned so much football from him. As an outsider looking in, Michigan State is right there as a national brand and I think a lot of that has to do with Coach Dantonio and how he’s handle everything.”

Dantonio says Snyder has “done it all” in his career. Snyder was the head coach at Marshall, his alma mater, from 1995-99. He was the defensive coordinator at South Florida under Skip Holtz before taking the same job at Texas A&M.

“I think on every staff there needs to be checks and balances,” Dantonio said in a statement.

“Mark Snyder has done it all in his career. He’s been a linebackers coach, a front-seven coach, a defensive line coach in the Big Ten, a head coach and a coordinator. So he’s a big picture guy and also understands the value of special teams. I expect him to be that checks and balances part of our front seven.”

Snyder hinted about a regional job offer when he was home during the holidays. The former Ironton All-Ohio quarterback and safety said he was looking to come back closer to home.

“For my family to get back to the Midwest, and also be with (Dantonio) and his family, we thought it was a great opportunity for us,” said Snyder.