Michigan State football coaching search: 5 leading candidates to replace Mark Dantonio

3. Dave Clawson, Wake Forest head coach

Perhaps Michigan State will include the man on the opposite sideline for the Pinstripe Bowl in their coaching search. Clawson’s record at Wake Forest is not outstanding (36-40 over six seasons). but the Demon Deacons have made four straight bowl appearances under him. Last season they were 7-1 and ranked as highly as No. 19 in the country, before losing three of four games in November.

Two of those losses came on a tough back-to-back on the road against Virginia Tech and Clemson, so while the shine came off Clawson’s star a bit losing those two games is not a particular black mark.

The departure of star quarterback Jamie Newman to Georgia as a grad transfer may make Clawson open to a move, and now Michigan State has an opportunity to offer. He’s an offensive mind and the work he did at Bowling Green prior to going to Wake, culminating in a 10-win season in 2013, creates intrigue regarding what Clawson could do with access to higher caliber talent.

Clawson wouldn’t be a very buzz-worthy hire for the Spartans, as fans would surely say “Who?” But he might just be the kind of coach that is needed if he’s allowed the time to build something as he has been at Wake Forest and Bowling Green.