| Mark Dantonio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Title | Head coach | |
| College | Michigan State | |
| Sport | Football | |
| Conference | Big Ten | |
| Team record | 22–16 | |
| Born | March 9, 1956 | |
| Place of birth |  El Paso, Texas |
|
| Annual salary | $1,800,000 | |
| Career highlights | ||
| Overall | 40–33 | |
| Bowls | 1-2 | |
| Coaching stats | ||
| College Football DataWarehouse | ||
| Playing career | ||
| 1976–1978 | South Carolina | |
| Position | Defensive back | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1980 1981 1982 1983–1984 1985 1986–1990 1991–1994 1995–2000 2001–2003 2004–2006 2007–present |
Ohio (GA) Purdue (GA) Butler Community Coll. (DC) Ohio State (GA) Akron (DB) Youngstown State (DC) Kansas (DB) Michigan State (DB) Ohio State (DC) Cincinnati Michigan State |
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Mark Dantonio (born March 9, 1956) is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. He was hired on November 27, 2006 to replace John L. Smith and became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. Dantonio compiled an 18–17 overall record in his three years as the head coach of the University of Cincinnati including a win in the 2004 Fort Worth Bowl. Known as a defensive-minded coach, Dantonio has compiled a 22–16 record while at Michigan State.
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Childhood and education
Dantonio grew up in Zanesville, Ohio and attended Zanesville High School. He was a three year letter winner at the University of South Carolina where he played defensive back from 1976–78. After earning his bachelor’s degree from South Carolina, Dantonio moved on to Ohio University where he earned his master’s degree in education in 1980.
Early coaching career
Dantonio began his coaching career at Ohio University where he was a graduate assistant. In 1981, he made his first stop in the Big Ten when he moved on to Purdue as a graduate assistant. He spent two years in Columbus as a graduate assistant for Ohio State in 1983 and 1984 under then head coach Earle Bruce. In 1986, he began a five-year stint on Jim Tressel’s staff at Youngstown State as a defensive secondary coach. In 1990, Dantonio led the Penguin's defense to an 11–0 record and a #2 ranking nationally. Glen Mason hired Dantonio in 1991 to be the defensive secondary coach for the Kansas Jayhawks. When Nick Saban was hired at Michigan State in 1995, he hired Dantonio to join his staff in East Lansing where he remained even after Saban left for LSU. After Bobby Williams was named head coach in 1999 following Saban's departure, Dantonio was promoted to associate head coach where he remained through the 2000 season. Following the 2000 season, Dantonio was hired by new Ohio State University head coach Jim Tressel.
Defensive coordinator at Ohio State
In 2001, Dantonio reunited with his former Youngstown State boss and good friend Jim Tressel when he opted out of East Lansing to serve as defensive coordinator at Ohio State University for three seasons. His defense became known as one of the stingiest in the country. During the Buckeyes' 2002 National Championship season, Ohio State ranked second nationally in scoring defense and third in rushing defense. In the 2003 season his defense ranked number one in the country in rushing defense and ninth in total defense, which led the Buckeyes to an 11–2 record and #4 national ranking. Six Buckeye defenders were named first team All-Big Ten during Dantonio's tenure there and thirteen were drafted into the NFL, including two first round picks in Chris Gamble and Will Smith.
Head coach at Cincinnati
Dantonio was named head coach at Cincinnati on December 23, 2003. He became the first head coach in 23 years to lead the school to a winning season in his first season at UC. The Bearcats' 7–5 record included a 5–3 record in Conference USA, which was good enough for a second place finish. The Bearcats finished the season on a winning note with a 32–14 win over Marshall in the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl. During Dantonio’s time at UC, he led the Bearcats to a bowl game victory and directed the team's transition into the Big East Conference. As head coach, Dantonio had fifteen players earn all-conference honors and twenty-five received conference academic recognition.
Head coach at Michigan State
Mark Dantonio became the 24th head coach at Michigan State on November 27, 2006. Upon his arrival, Dantonio planned to return MSU to a more traditional philosophy on offense and defense, eliminating the spread offense and the "bandit" linebacker/safety position used under previous head coach John L. Smith.[1]
Dantonio began his MSU career well at Spartan Stadium when on April 21, 2007 Michigan State drew over 25,000 fans to watch the team's spring scrimmage game. The white team led by sophomore quarterback Connor Dixon defeated junior quarterback Brian Hoyer and the green team by a score of 21–8. During the game, Dantonio was seen behind the line of scrimmage watching and coaching the action.[2]
Dantonio won his first game at Michigan State on September 1, 2007, when the Spartans defeated the UAB Blazers, 55–18.[3] His first season at Michigan State was the school's most successful since 2003. Dantonio's Spartans went 7–5, losing all five games by seven points or less, and were bowl eligible for the first time in four years. However, the Spartans lost to Boston College in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando on December 28.[4]
Dantonio's second season at MSU began with a loss at Cal, after which the Spartans came home and won six straight games against Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Notre Dame, Indiana, Iowa, and Northwestern. The victories propelled Michigan State into the top 25. Following a lopsided 45–7 loss against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Spartans beat Michigan, 35–21, in Ann Arbor for the first time since 1990. Michigan State won its final two home games against Wisconsin and Purdue before losing to Penn State in Happy Valley. A win against Penn State would have resulted in Michigan State splitting the Big Ten Conference title with Ohio State. The nine regular season wins was Michigan State's most since 1999. Michigan State finished third in the conference and was invited to play Georgia in the Capital One Bowl. Michigan State lost the game, 24–12, finishing the season 9–4.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bearcats (Conference USA (2004) / Big East Conference (2005-2006)) (2004–2006) | |||||||||
| 2004 | Cincinnati | 7–5 | 5–3 | 2nd | W Fort Worth | ||||
| 2005 | Cincinnati | 4–7 | 2–5 | 6th | |||||
| 2006 | Cincinnati | 7–5 | 4–3 | 4th | Invited to International* | ||||
| Cincinnati: | 18–17 | 11–11 | *Departed Cincinnati for Michigan State before the International Bowl | ||||||
| Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (2007–present) | |||||||||
| 2007 | Michigan State | 7–6 | 3–5 | T-7th | L Champs Sports | ||||
| 2008 | Michigan State | 9–4 | 6–2 | 3rd | L Capital One | 24 | 24 | ||
| 2009 | Michigan State | 6–6 | 4–4 | T-6th | Alamo | ||||
| Michigan State: | 22–16 | 13–11 | |||||||
| Total: | 40–33 | ||||||||
| National Championship Conference Title Conference Division Title | |||||||||
| †Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll. |
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References
- ^ Rexrode, Joe. "Inside the Deal". Lansing State Journal. November 28, 2006. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611280334 Accessed March 13, 2007
- ^ Associated Press. "Dantonio presides over first spring game as Michigan State coach". Sporting News. April 21, 2007. http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=199429 Accessed July 10, 2007
- ^ Associated Press. "Spartans 55, Blazers 18." ESPN. September 1, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=272440127
- ^ Associated Press. "Ryan, Gunnell help BC extend bowl winning streak to eight". ESPN. December 28, 2007. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273620127
External links
- Michigan State profile
- ESPN: Michigan State Hires Mark Dantonio
- New York Times: Michigan State Looks to Cincinnati for Coach
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rick Minter |
Cincinnati Head Football Coach 2004–2006 |
Succeeded by Brian Kelly |
| Preceded by John L. Smith |
Michigan State Head Football Coach 2007– |
Succeeded by Current |
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