Michigan State football coaching search: 5 leading candidates to replace Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is out at Michigan State and these are the leading coaching candidates to be the Spartans’ next head coach.
Mark Dantonio, the winningest coach in Michigan State football history (114 wins), has announced he is stepping down after 13 seasons.
The Spartans made a bowl game in 12 of Dantonio’s 13 seasons in East Lansing, including six 10-win campaigns and three Big Ten titles. A five-game losing streak last season put him firmly on the hot seat, with a $4.3 million retention bonus looming due to him in mid-January to add fuel to the idea he’d be gone at season’s end. Allegations of recruiting violations, and a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by former Spartans staffer, Curtis Blackwell, lingered over Dantonio.
But Michigan State won their final two regular-season games to get to six wins, then beat Wake Forest in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl to finish 7-6 for a second straight season. Once that retention bonus was paid, Dantonio’s future was not in as much doubt.
To all Spartans: Thank you for everything. You have truly helped my dreams come true. pic.twitter.com/uKkubvp1cW
— Mark Dantonio (@DantonioMark) February 4, 2020
As ranked by 247Sports, Dantonio is leaving behind a 2020 recruiting class that is top-50 in the country and 10th in the Big Ten. There are no four-star recruits in the class.
Even at this very late stage, a Power 5 job coming open is sure to draw some good candidates. Here are five options to replace Mark Dantonio as head coach at Michigan State.
5. Mike Tressel, Michigan State interim coach/defensive coordinator
Tressel has been named interim head coach immediately in the wake of Dantonio’s departure. He’s been on Dantonio’s coaching staff for 16 straight seasons, going back to Dantonio’s tenure at Cincinnati, going from special teams coordinator/linebackers coach at Michigan State to a co-defensive coordinator to defensive coordinator over the last two seasons.
Apart from any motivation to get that retention bonus, Dantonio’s late retirement announcement may have been a calculated move to ensure Tressel was the replacement.
If continuity matters to the Michigan State brass, Tressel should at least get an interview to become the permanent head coach. And it seems he’ll have an advocate in Dantonio if his input is a factor.
Former Spartans co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett, who left for Florida State but was not retained by new head coach Mike Norvell, could also be a candidate to replace Dantonio.