Michigan State's Coach Joins Reign of Strong Dunks!

Could another Michigan State basketball assistant coach be heading to Western Michigan to be the Broncos head coach? A recent report suggests that is in play. Just four years ago, longtime Michigan State assistant coach Dwayne Stephens left the Spartans to become the next Western Michigan head coach.

Now, it appears another Michigan State assistant coach could be following the same track as Stephens. Tony Paul of The Detroit News posted on social media on Tuesday that Michigan State assistant coach Saddi Washington is "definitely" interested in the Broncos' opening. Stephens was let go by Western Michigan earlier this month, and Washington's name has quickly emerged as one of the top candidates.

On the Western Michigan coaching front, Saddi Washington turned down the job six years ago, and didn’t want to be considered four years ago. I am told Washington — a former UM assistant and current MSU assistant, and a WMU alum — is *definitely* interested in the job this time. — Tony Paul | Detroit News (@TonyPaul1984) March 17, 2026 Washington is a Western Michigan alum and has spent time at both Michigan and currently Michigan State as an assistant coach.

He has been at Michigan State for two seasons and prior to that was at rival Michigan for eight seasons. The loss of Washington certainly would have an effect on the Spartans since he is considered a high-level assistant coach. But it also is not totally unexpected considering his ties to Western Michigan and assumption that he'll eventually want to be a head coach as well.