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MOUNT PLEASANT - Dan Enos has held plenty of positions over the course of his coaching career.
He can add head coach to his resume now.
The former Michigan State quarterback and assistant coach on Tuesday was named as the top man at Central Michigan, taking over for since-departed Butch Jones.
Enos had been the running backs coach at MSU for all three years of Mark Dantonio's tenure and also served as quarterbacks coach under John L. Smith in 2006, making his name as a strong recruiting presence throughout the state.
"It's bittersweet. Once again, it's about the people," Enos said about leaving his alma mater. "They're very, very good people there, Mark and (his wife) Becky are outstanding people. But this is an unbelievably tremendous opportunity."
Enos said he enlisted Dantonio's help to get involved in the CMU application process. Then, Enos made enough of an impression to land the job even without having been a coordinator at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Dan Enos and his family," Dantonio said in a statement. "I have no doubt that he will do an outstanding job at CMU. Dan has been a great asset and ambassador for the Michigan State football program, first as a great player and then as an outstanding recruiter and coach.
"He'll always be a Spartan."
Enos was a two-year starter at quarterback for MSU in 1989 and '90, leading the Spartans to wins in the Aloha Bowl and John Hancock Bowl. His 3,387 career passing yards rank third all-time at MSU.
Jones left for Cincinnati to replace Brian Kelley, another former CMU coach.
The Chippewas were 12-2 overall this season after defeating Troy in the GMAC Bowl under interim coach Steve Stripling, also a former MSU assistant. Central Michigan won the Mid-American Conference title game over Ohio, eight days before Jones left for Cincinnati.
Enos served as a graduate assistant at MSU under George Perles before beginning a coaching career that has wound from stops at every level from Division III back to MSU.
"We kept circling back to Dan Enos because he's the right guy at the right time," CMU athletic director Dave Heeke said. "Dan's a man of great character, great integrity and great passion for intercollegiate athletics. ... He cares deeply about his players and their full development as people."
As a coach at MSU, Enos was integral in landing a pair of four-star recruits for 2010 - Detroit Southeastern defensive end Will Gholston and Saline quarterback Joe Boisture. He also recruited freshmen running backs Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, both of whom were significant contributors this season.
Enos and the Chippewas will play at Spartan Stadium in 2011, then they host MSU as part of the "Celebrate the State" series in 2012.
"I'll have to tell coach Dantonio we're coming after him," Enos said. "We're gonna go after him with everything we have. And he'll do the same, believe me."
