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Lansing State Journal

Dantonio new MSU football coach

By Joe Rexrode • Lansing State Journal • November 27, 2006

EAST LANSING -- Mark Dantonio will be Michigan State's next football coach. He was approved unanimously Monday morning by Michigan State's Board of Trustees.
MSU President Lou Anna Simon recommended Dantonio at a special, media-friendly board meeting at the Clara Bell Smith Academic Center.

In a scene straight out of reality TV, the board and Simon sat at a table on the auditorium stage, with microphones attached, while a large media audience watched from nearby.

Dantonio, currently Cincinnati's head coach, "best matched all (the) characteristics and requirements" MSU sought, Simon said.

Dantonio has agreed to a five-year, rolling deal worth $1.1 million a year -- $600,000 in base salary and $500,000 in supplemental income. A rolling deal means the contract renews each year. But after the fourth year, Dantonio's buyout will be his base salary only.

Dantonio also will have incentives for on- and off-field performance, and he'll receive a $200,000 signing bonus.

Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio directs his team from the sideline Sept. 16 in the first half of a football game against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Mark Dantonio is the candidate whom Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon recommends that the board of trustees hire as football coach.

Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio directs his team from the sideline Sept. 16 in the first half of a football game against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Mark Dantonio is the candidate whom Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon recommends that the board of trustees hire as football coach. (Terry Gilliam/Associated Press)

Mark Dantonio

Age: 50

Born: Zanesville, Ohio

High school: All-Ohio as a senior at Zanesville High.

College: He was a three-year letterman as a defensive back at South Carolina (1976-78).

Education: Completed his bachelor’s degree in English at South Carolina in 1979 and earned his master’s in education at Ohio University in 1981.

Wife: Becky

Children: Kristen and Lauren.


From the Cincinnati Enquirer: Dantonio to Michigan St.

Resume

1979: Began his coaching career as an assistant at Westside High in Anderson, S.C.

1980: Graduate assistant at Ohio University, under head coach Brian Burke.

1981: Graduate assistant at Purdue for head coach Jim Young.

1982: Defensive coordinator at Butler County (Kan.) Community College.

1983-84: Member of Earle Bruce’s Ohio State football staff, helping the Buckeyes to the Fiesta and Rose bowls.

1985: Secondary coach at Akron where he coached under Jim Dennison, helping the Zips to an 8-3 record and an appearance in the Division I-AA playoffs.

1986-90: Worked on the staff of current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel at Youngstown State. The Penguins made three trips to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs during his five seasons there, and posted an 11-0 regular season record in 1990, when Dantonio was YSU’s defensive coordinator.

1991-94: Dantonio served as defensive backs coach at Kansas. Helped the Jayhawks produce an 8-4 record and defeat BYU in the Aloha Bowl in 1992.

1995-2000: Secondary coach at Michigan State under Nick Saban and Bobby Williams. Promoted to associate head coach in 2000. The MSU defense was ranked 12th nationally and led the Big Ten in total defense in 1999. The Spartans went 10-2, were Citrus Bowl champions and were ranked No. 7 in the final polls.

2000-03: Defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Dantonio assembled the defense which led Ohio State to the national title in 2002. The Buckeyes were second nationally in scoring defense (13.1) and third in rushing defense (77.7) during their perfect season.

2003-06: Named head coach at Cincinnati on Dec. 23, 2003. Was first Cincinnati head coach in 23 years to lead a team to a winning season in his first season. The Bearcats’ 7-5 record included a 5-3 mark in Conference USA and a second-place finish in the conference. The Bearcats went 7-5 this season, including a 30-11 victory over then-undefeated and No. 7-ranked Rutgers on Nov. 18. They are currently awaiting a bowl invitation.

— University of Cincinnati

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