Jonathan Smith is in East Lansing to take control of Michigan State after spending the majority of his career on the West Coast. The timing of that move from Oregon State brings a few questions, considering the recent implosion of the Pac-12.

However, Smith downplayed the impact of conference realignment and instability on the decision to leave his alma mater. Instead, he said the idea of a move was “brewing” but finding the right fit allowed him to be selective.

“Not a major factor. I tried to describe it to my team. Look, instability, conference realignment, all of this stuff, there was something brewing in me of the idea of going somewhere if the fit was right and just being really selective on that,” said Smith at his introductory press conference.

He went on to point out that certain other opportunities did not interest him but continued conversations with Michigan State led to “more and more” excitement as things progressed.

As for the Pac-12, Smith admitted it was “kind of sad” the way things blew up with major departures to the Big Ten and Big 12. But, overall, he had a genuine excitement about the challenges of the Big Ten.

“Look, you know me, I’m a West Coast guy and all that. Pac-12, the Conference of Champions, I think it is kind of sad in general for that to blow up with the history of that place,” said Smith. “I go back to where I was born and raised, going to the Rose Bowl with the Big Ten and Pac-12 and all of that, but I was genuinely excited to be a part of the Big Ten and a part of this place, and that excitement just grew on me.”