If Dantono retires soon, what can MSU reasonably expect in a replacement?
I don't think Dantoneo will ever be fired, but it seems like he's probably not going to be around in East Lansing much longer (for all the reasons that don't need to be articulated here). He was, by all accounts, an excellent coach for them, resurrecting their program from the abysmal days of Bobby Williams and John L. Smith, and even taking them to the playoff one year. Of course some of his success can be attributed to the down years of Michigan and Penn State during his tenure, but he brought a sense of toughness and pride to that team that they hadn't had since Saban was their coach. I absolutely hate the guy, but that fact alone says something about his stewardship of that program. I didn't really hate John L. Smith.
So my question is, how attractive a job is MSU if Dantoneo leaves? Could they, for example, make a run at someone like PJ Fleck, or would that be a lateral move for Fleck? MSU doesn't seem to care a ton about ethics, so would they go after someone like Sarkesian, who I think is (despite his checkered past) a solid football mind? Or does MSU need to find a diamond in the rough sort of coach -- an up-and-comer mid-major sort of guy?
Right now Dantonoe makes about 4.5 million, give or take a few hundred thousand for bonuses etc. How much coach could that kind of money buy, and would it be possible to make MSU an attractive destination for 4 and 5-star recruits? Obviously they would need to commit some money to facilities upgrades and so on, but it could be done.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:06 AM ^
Fickell
November 11th, 2019 at 12:12 AM ^
Yep and he'll likely be one of most sought after guys after this year.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:37 AM ^
That would be interesting symmetry, as Dantonio himself did what Fickell is doing: OSU DC, Cincy HC, MSU HC, maybe.
I think Fickell wants the OSU job, and won't want to coach in division against them. Day looks great 9 games in, but maybe he can't maintain it or maybe he does then jumps back to the NFL. If I were Fickell, I would look for a mid level P5 job outside the B1G before MSU. On the other hand, if they offered it would be hard to turn down.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:36 AM ^
I think Fickell wants the OSU job
I'm sure he does as well but like you said, the only way that happens is if Day goes to the NFL or oddly struggles with the 5-stars OSU can pull in on name alone.
So then what does Fickell do? Wait around at Cincy and hope OSU comes calling 5+ years down the line? Or take the MSU job to try and prove he can succeed at a P5 school and then if the OSU job opens he'd still take it. Inter-division coaching changes are rare, but I wouldn't put it past him.
November 11th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
I seriously question whether OSU would consider Fickell if the job comes open again sometime soon. Although it wasn’t all his fault, that 6-7 season as interim head coach soured a lot of people against him. There’s a reason that 2011 is derisively referred to as “the Fickell year.”
November 11th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Yes, this probably should be the first name on the list. Also the guy a lot of MSU types realistically have tabbed for the job. I think the confounder is if Dantonio wants one of ‘his’ guys, a la Carr and Debord.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:06 AM ^
I assume they'd go after Narduzzi, but he might feel he's better off with the ACC Coastal than the B1G East and the dumpster fire that is MSU football.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:07 AM ^
I think Narduzzi will be their coach next year.
Has history with them, probably will get a raise, and slightly higher profile.
He's done a decent job at Pitt.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:09 AM ^
Are people really still obsessed with this topic? It's hate week. Call your MSU coworker a doo-doo head (or something more creative) and leave this talk to the offseason when we'll know more.
Go Blue! Beat Sparty!!!
November 11th, 2019 at 12:13 AM ^
PJ Fleck was 36 when he bailed from WMU and already was being paid 800k in the MAC, which was substantially higher than any other coach in MAC history. I thought he should have just waited it out for this MSU job, which would have looked like 2-3 more years. I thought the Minnesota gig was stupid, and I still expect it to be a stepping stone job for him and not long term.
Too bad for MSU, I guess. Might have been good. MSU with an under 40 Fleck could have been a pain in the ass for a long time. (Insert Nelson Muntz "ha ha" image here)
A lot of people here like to talk about that mediocre coach at Iowa St.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:46 AM ^
Fleck lost Terrell and Davis off the Cotton Bowl team, amongst others. He would have lost a lot of luster if he went back and won 6/7 games.
Plus, Minnesota has similar resources and a much easier path to the Championship game.
November 11th, 2019 at 6:43 AM ^
People act like Fleck is a Michigan native. He had no ties to this state before he came to WMU.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:50 AM ^
Maybe true, but he's recruiting it like its his backyard.
November 11th, 2019 at 10:06 AM ^
Based on what? Ferentz (Iowa) and Chryst (Wisconsin) have had way more success recruiting Michigan in the last 4 years. I think even Fitzgerald (Northwestern) has had a bigger footprint in Michigan than Minnesota. Big Ten teams are going to recruit in Michigan.
Iowa and Wisconsin both have multiple starters on their team from Michigan. I don't think Minnesota has one.
November 11th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
Haven't checked where Fleck's Minnesota recruits have come from but he built up WMU in part with recruits from Florida, a few on the somewhat sketchy side.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:20 AM ^
That fat floozy — Pat Narduzzi
November 11th, 2019 at 12:28 AM ^
Oh, I thought you were referring to matt patricia
November 11th, 2019 at 12:20 AM ^
LETS BEAT THEM FIRST!!! WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE
November 11th, 2019 at 12:24 AM ^
The new hire would have to a young dynamic coordinator. Someone who wants the head job so bad that they will accept the pressure of knowing that its likely they will never finish better than 4th in the east division.
I believe a current young head coach would be better served to go to the ACC, B12 or PAC12 and avoid the B1G or SEC. If they're tempted, they should call Chris Ash who is a really good DC and was clearly overmatched at a lost cause school in a lost cause division.
Are there any young MSU affiliated assistants out there?
Also, Sparty needs to go young. That program is decaying. Someone with real charisma to change the recruiting narrative.
Frankly, OSU's Jeff Hafley (co-DC) would be just the kind of guy I would imagine.
November 11th, 2019 at 2:08 AM ^
Luke Fickell.
He is a Young Dantonio. Heck, he was on staff with him when OSU won that natty in ‘02.
Hafley will not go from assistant to a second tier B1G job.
He could end up taking over for Fickell at UC though.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:29 AM ^
At this point fully expecting MSU to pull the upset and a thread to come out saying who should replace Harbaugh.....
November 11th, 2019 at 12:31 AM ^
What, if anything, gives the OP any inclination that Mark Daytona is not going to be coaching at Sparty next year?
The guy named his own AD last year.
Srlsy bruh.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:32 AM ^
I don’t understand why Fleck would go to Staee. His path to a Big Ten title would become much more difficult. Maybe he eventually ends up a USC or in the SEC. But if he is going to be in the Big Ten he is better off at Minnesota. Also Michigan plays at Minnesota next season. I am assuming it will be a night game and that place will be rockin. The way Michigan plays on the road it will be hard to come out of there with a victory.
November 11th, 2019 at 7:07 AM ^
Fleck just signed a six year extension. He’s not going anywhere. At least not after this season.
But agreed. If he wants to stay in the Big Ten, he’s much better off staying where he is. It’s hard to recruit to Minnesota, sure, but putting himself in the East makes life a lot tougher. There he’d have to play PSU, OSU and Michigan every year.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:02 AM ^
I had heard that Fleck's buy-out begins at $ 7 million. IF true, that would be a stumbling block for some schools. That said, the guy is pure ambition, and if USC offered, he's outta there (MN).
November 11th, 2019 at 12:34 AM ^
It's a good thing Michigan fans don't obsess about Michigan St the way Michigan St fans obsess about Michigan.
November 11th, 2019 at 12:47 AM ^
I said this in a thread that got nuked, but:
I think there’s a small but non-trivial chance that Dantonio announces this week that he will retire at the end of the season.
It’s the biggest game week of the year, and MSU has looked just terrible. Announcing now would both take all of the pressure off of his team and focus/motivate them to win one for coach. It would also dodge all of the uncomfortable questions about the state of the program at a time when it looks absolutely terrible just as most of Michigan’s media is paying attention.
Not a huge chance, but a chance.
November 11th, 2019 at 1:16 AM ^
I have been thinking this as well. Would not surprise me to see it happen. Or at the very least Dantini tells the team right before the game that he is retiring after the season. Nothing would surprise me at this point.
November 11th, 2019 at 2:39 AM ^
Better gas up the transfer portal if that happens
November 11th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
I tried replying to your comment mid-nuking. I hate when that happens. I hit save and get the “you are not authorized...” response.
Anyway, yeah, the situation you described reminded me of the Earl Bruce fedora game. If anyone doubts that emotion can overcome a talent discrepancy, just have them watch that game.
November 11th, 2019 at 1:29 AM ^
If I'm Sparty Luke Fickell is the first and only call. Coaches at Cincinnati. Knows Ohio like the back of his hand and can recruit, Buckeye so already hates Michigan. Assistant under a couple of all time great coaches. Dude's resume is literally the same as dantonio in 2006
November 11th, 2019 at 6:44 AM ^
His résumé is better than Dantonio's. Dantonio was a .500 coach there. But that means Fickell can probably get a better job than MSU.
November 11th, 2019 at 2:03 AM ^
Luke Fickell and that would suck because he gets stronger as a coach every year and can flat out recruit. He has a core staff of strength guys, quality assistants and he spent 10 years with Tressel and 5 years with Urban.
He walks on water at every major high school in Ohio. All those good MSU teams are loaded with the 3* gems that OSU and UM rarely have room to take. Fickell used to bring these guys to OSU under Tressel and he kept bringing them in under Urban. Some of the biggest defensive names at OSU in the past 15 years were 3* kids Fickell found.
He is 19-3 the past two years. This ain’t the interim HC we beat in 2011.
November 11th, 2019 at 6:07 AM ^
Some of the biggest defensive names at OSU in the past 15 years were 3* kids Fickell found.
Sorry, but this can't be true (not enough stars) and casts shadows over everything you said.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:55 AM ^
AJ Hawk and Darron Lee are two of their better linebackers from the Fickell era and both were 3-star recruits from Ohio.
November 11th, 2019 at 10:12 AM ^
Daron Lee certainly an example. HS QB 3-star turned high draft choice OLB.
Davon Hamilton current 3-star DT who is shooting up the draft board with his play.
Pat Elflein, former 3-star C turned Remington winner and NFL draft choice.
And finally, some kid named JOE BURROW(4-star) who Urban initially didn't want..........
Just a few examples, There are others.
Sorry, but this casts shadows over everything you said.........
November 11th, 2019 at 2:58 PM ^
18 notable 3* defensive players during the Fickell era:
AJ Hawk*
James Laurintas*
Malcolm Jenkins*
Zach Boren
John Simon*
Bradley Roby*
Jonathan Hankins*
Tyvis Powell*
Chris Worley
Gareon Conley*
Darron Lee*
Tracey Sprinkle
Malik Hooker*
Sam Hubbard*
Damon Arnette — current starter
Robert Landers — current starter
Denzel Ward*
*NFL draft pick
November 11th, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
Well done! Don't know that Luke was directly involved with recruiting all of these guys but he was part of the recruiting team.
November 11th, 2019 at 6:38 AM ^
"All those good MSU teams are loaded with the 3* gems that OSU and UM rarely have room to take. Fickell used to bring these guys to OSU under Tressel and he kept bringing them in under Urban."
So, in one sentence you say there are 3-starz that OSU and UM don't take. Then you turn right around and tell us that Fickle took all of the 3-starz for OSU. Which one is it? I mean, both can't be true...
You make Fickell sound like an awesome guy. Fact is, he's a decent coach at Cincinnati - he's going to have a decent program. Dantony did the same thing - bring in the 3's that OSU, PSU, and UM didn't take. Brian Kelly did the same thing at Cin - bring in the 3's that OSU, PSU, and UM didn't take. Butch Jones did the same thing at Cin - bring in the 3's that OSU, PSU, and UM didn't take. It's a theme at Cincinatti - be a decent coach, have a decent team.
November 11th, 2019 at 3:14 PM ^
What I said was Luke had an eye for 3* talent at OSU. He couldn’t take them all because OSU recruited a lot of 4/5* guys but he hit home runs with guys like Hawk, Laurintas, Jenkins, Lee etc.
Ohio has a ton of 3* talent and some goes untouched by OSU. Sometimes it’s a matter of numbers. Dantonio made a living on these guys. Sometimes it was a matter of OSU slow playing a 3* in state kid and missing out to MSU because they offered faster.
Urban was reluctant to bite on 3*s but Luke delivered some studs. Lee, Hooker, Hubbard all played like 5*s
Fickell would not be good for us at all. Dismiss him at your own peril. The Dantonio teams that gave us hell would be back in style.
November 11th, 2019 at 7:22 AM ^
Bluedream, I don’t know who you think you are fooling but it’s pretty obvious you are an OSU troll. 90 pct of your posts are about giving subtle compliments to the Buckeyes.
November 11th, 2019 at 2:26 AM ^
Bret Bileama
November 11th, 2019 at 2:37 AM ^
Steve Mariucci. A tv crew’s wet dream.
November 11th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
OMG. Izzo and Mariucci together again. Iron Mountain in the house. Izzo needs someone he can trust (ie. Fall Guy) to house his serial litterbugs.
Yes, I would love this.
November 11th, 2019 at 3:39 AM ^
Someone who isn't as good as Dantonio. Dantonio is a pretty good coach, particularly at defense.
Saban's record (34-24 = 59% wins, 1 bowl win, 3 bowl losses) at MSU isn't as good as Dantonio's (111-56 = 66% wins, 5 bowl wins, 6 bowl losses).
If they got rid of Dantonio, I think they'd be totally shafted, and they would totally deserve it for being stupid.
November 11th, 2019 at 5:52 AM ^
Just beat MSU on 11/16
November 11th, 2019 at 6:23 AM ^
Tressel
the nephew not the Penguin president.
November 11th, 2019 at 6:30 AM ^
I don’t think I want to get too cocky yet and talk about replacements for Dantonio. Let’s just beat MSU before WE start talking about replacements. Seems like every other week people are talking about a replacement for Harbaugh.
November 11th, 2019 at 6:40 AM ^
I don't think it's enough for Fickle to leave Cincinnati.Plus you have to play PSU,UM and TOSU and tsun doesn't have enough of a recruiting base compared to a USC or FSU. Not enough of a move up for the HC of Iowa State either.
November 11th, 2019 at 7:18 AM ^
Fleck will not go from Minnesota to MSU. B1G coaches don't quit as a head coach of one B1G school to go to another B1G school.Doesn't happen.