EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State has hired Ron Burton as its new defensive line coach.

Coach Mark Dantonio announced the move Friday. Burton spent the last 10 seasons as the defensive line coach at Air Force.

Burton says he's excited about working with a Michigan State defense that has been ``one of the nation's elite'' in recent seasons.

Before coaching at Air Force, Burton spent one season at Grand Valley State. He also spent five seasons as the linebackers coach at Indiana, and he coached linebackers at Eastern Michigan for two seasons.

Burton is a North Carolina graduate and played four seasons as a linebacker in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, Phoenix Cardinals and Los Angeles Raiders.