 In 1967, Begian was hired to succeed Leonard Falcone as Director of Bands at Michigan State University.Begian directed the Spartan Marching Band alongside assistant director Bill Moffit from 1967 through 1969 and left a large impact on the SMB during his three years in the position.In 1969, Dr. Begian left MSU to begin his fourteen-year tenure as only the third person to hold the position Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, a position that he entered in 1970.