Trust in Jonathan Smith and family atmosphere paving Aidan Chiles’ path at Michigan State

Detroit – When Jonathan Smith left Oregon State to become the head coach at Michigan State late last November, most felt like it was a foregone conclusion that promising freshman quarterback Aidan Chiles would follow him. It took only two weeks for Chiles to commit to Michigan State, but his decision wasn’t as easy as it may have looked.

Chiles thought his future was in Corvallis, Ore. Chiles was revered for his talent and his decision to choose the Beavers out of high school. Not to mention, he was within driving distance of his home in southern California.

Chiles and his family have grown close with Smith over the years. Chiles took a chance on Smith and Oregon State out of high school, not because it was the most flashy program or because it offered him the most NIL money. Instead, Smith and Oregon State simply “checked all of the boxes” for Chiles, according to his father, Adrian.

“When Aidan was first starting to get recruited in high school, the Oregon State coaches were just always honest with us,” Adrian said on Sunday while watching his son help coordinate the I Am Quarterback camp in Detroit. “Coaches sometimes will do or say anything to get a player to commit, but it was never like that with them.”

Chiles knew that he could be developed both on and off the field under a coach that believed in him. He chose Oregon State – his first Power Five offer – over Washington and Washington State. He took official visits to all three schools.

The first thought that Adrian had when he heard that Smith took the Michigan State job was, “Michigan State must be an amazing opportunity, because Smith wouldn’t just take any job.”

The more Adrian learned about Michigan State, the more he thought the move made sense for Smith, and eventually for his son.

“East Lansing is such a similar place to Corvallis,” Adrian said. “Just so many similarities between the two. East Lansing has more to offer, but it’s almost the same environment with just a little bit more of everything.”

Smith is a laid-back coach who isn’t keen on being in the spotlight, but, toward the end of last season, he and Chiles were two of the most sought-after commodities in the nation. Washington and UCLA would have likely had interest in Smith, had their head coaching jobs come open sooner.

USC – Chiles’ hometown team – heavily pursued the quarterback after he entered the transfer portal. But Chiles’ eventual decision was less about NIL money, distance, or any other material item. His decision was based on genuine relationships and his trust in the staff to develop him both on and off the field for the next few years.

Smith is known as a “family man” to his players, and he has already established a family atmosphere within the Michigan State program. Whether it’s tight ends coach Brian Wozniak carrying his sons on his shoulders around the practice field, or strength and conditioning coach Mike McDonald chasing his twins around Duffy Daugherty Football Building, it’s evident that Smith’s program is built on a family mindset.

“Smith is a simple, family guy,” Adrian said. “He would rather be in East Lansing than in LA. At the end of the day, (he does) what’s best for his family and that’s what he values.”

It remains to be seen how successful Smith will be at Michigan State, but thus far, he has been the same person that Michigan State fans heard about when he was originally hired.

“Either you’re in or you’re out when it comes to Coach Smith,” Adrian said. “He’s three steps ahead of you on the field. And off the field, all the time, he doesn’t waste resources.”

Thankfully for Michigan State and Smith, Aidan Chiles was football resource that the new Spartan coaching staff didn’t leave behind in Corvalis.

Aidan Chiles tosses a frisbee to Zeke The Wonderdog after the Spring Showcase scrimmage at Spartan Stadium on April 20. (Photo by Donte Smith for SpartanMag).

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