Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
LARRY LAGE
Associated Press
DETROIT - Michigan State's president has picked Cincinnati's Mark Dantonio to replace the fired John L. Smith and become the Spartans' ninth football coach since 1972.
An official with knowledge of the latest developments in the coaching search told The Associated Press on Sunday night that president Lou Anna Simon would recommend the move to the board of trustees.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Michigan State had not yet made an announcement. The school only said that it has scheduled a special board of trustees meeting for 8 a.m. Monday on the East Lansing campus.
Dantonio, a former Spartans assistant, would be the school's ninth since Duffy Daugherty's era ended in 1972. The Spartans have won at least eight games in consecutive seasons once and has played in only one Rose Bowl since 1966.
Under Smith this season, the Spartans finished 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten, losing eight of their last nine games. Smith had a 22-26 record in four seasons.
Cincinnati athletic director Mike Thomas knew Dantonio was a candidate for the Michigan State job, Bearcats spokesman Tom Hathaway said.
"He was aware that Dantonio was being interviewed today," Hathaway said Sunday night.
Dantonio is in his third year as Cincinnati's head coach. He has an 18-17 record, including a 7-5 mark this season with a win over previously unbeaten Rutgers. The Big East school is awaiting a bowl bid.
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles assistant Pat Shurmur and Miami Dolphins assistant Charlie Baggett also were candidates for the opening.
Dantonio's head coaching experience worked in his favor along with his ties to the school.
He was an assistant at Michigan State from 1995 through 2000 under Nick Saban and Bobby Williams. Dantonio left for Ohio State, where he was defensive coordinator for three seasons. He also was an assistant at Kansas, Akron, Ohio and Youngstown State.
The Bearcats hired Dantonio on December 2003 and he went on to become the first coach in school history to have a winning record in his first season with seven wins, including a victory over Marshall in the Fort Worth Bowl.
After taking a step back with a 4-7 record in 2005 with a young team, Dantonio led Cincinnati to another solid season this year.
Dantonio might be able to help Michigan State recruit in the talent-rich state of Ohio.
The Zanesville, Ohio, native got the first big break in his career at Ohio State, where Earle Bruce hired him in 1983. He also was a defensive coordinator at Youngstown State under Jim Tressel, who later brought Dantonio with him from the Division I-AA school to Ohio State.