Mark Dantonio

Mark Dantonio

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 following a 4-8 season. Dantonio became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. Dantonio compiled an 18-17 overall record in his 3 years as the head coach of the University of Cincinnati including one bowl appearance (a win in the 2004 Fort Worth Bowl). The 2006 campaign included an upset win over previously undefeated and ranked Rutgers University.

Following the announcement, Mark Dantonio's hire at Michigan State was praised by several respected people in the college football world. Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said, "Mark will build a great program and will do a great job. We're looking forward to competing against him, but the neighborhood just got a little tougher." Among those who thought highly of the Dantonio hire was former Spartan head coach Nick Saban. "Mark really has the right blend for Michigan State," said Saban, "He brings honesty and integrity to the Spartan football program." "Mark was one of the top recruiters on our coaching staff." ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit also thought Michigan State picked the right guy for the job. "As a fan of the Big Ten and a fan of Mark Dantonio, I love it. He will bring class to Michigan State," Herbstreit said. "He'll recruit character and bring a similar feel and attributes that you see from Ohio State's team. I can't wait to see Michigan State in about three years, once Mark has a chance to recruit his kind of players."

Childhood and education

Mark Dantonio was born in El Paso, Texas on March 9, 1956. He 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 onto Ohio University where he earned his master’s degree in education in 1980.

Early coaching career

Dantonio began his coaching career at Ohio 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. 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 and The University of Kansas hired Dantonio in 1991 to be their defensive secondary coach. 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 convincing 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 has 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. The Michigan State football program is optimistic that Dantonio's leadership can restore it to its winning ways of the late 1990's, the same time that Dantonio was employed by the school as a defensive secondary coach. Dantonio is planning to return MSU to a more traditional philosophy on offense and defense, eliminating the spread offense and "bandit" linebacker/safety position used under former head coach John L. Smith.

Dantonio began his MSU career off well at Spartan Stadium when on April 21, 2007 Michigan State drew 25,000+ fans to watch the team's spring scrimmage game. The white team led by Sophomore QB Connor Dixon defeated Junior QB 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.

Mark Dantonio won his first game at Michigan State on September 1, 2007 when the Spartans defeated the University of Alabama-Birmingham, 55-18. To date, Dantonio's Spartans have compiled a 5-3 record in his first season at the helm. Playing the toughest schedule in the Big Ten, all three of Michigan State's losses have been by seven points or less.

External links

• Michigan State Dantonio Profile: Mark Dantonio
• ESPN: Michigan State Hires Mark Dantonio
• New York Times: Michigan State Looks to Cincinnati for Coach