Michigan State Football: All-time Spartan team
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Michigan State won 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
After John L. Smith, all hope was lost in East Lansing. The rambunctious head coach wore out his welcome with the Michigan State football program and fans after just four seasons, going 22-26 during that time with plenty of face-palm moments.
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Mark Dantonio was hired as the head coach in 2007 and it seemed, at the time, to be a safe hire, but not many fans had heard of the Cincinnati Bearcats lead man. Little did many fans know, Dantonio was actually an assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State from 1995-2000 and was the defensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes who won the 2002 National Championship.
Dantonio’s resume was solid, but would he be good enough to lead Michigan State back to relevance after decades of hurt?
The answer has been a resounding yes. Dantonio has the highest win percentage (87-35; .731) of any Michigan State coach in recent memory. The only coaches to have higher percentages are Biggie Munn (54-9-2; .846) and John F. Macklin (29-5; .853).
Before he retires, Dantonio will likely become the all-time winningest coach in Michigan State history, needing just 22 to tie Duffy Daugherty. Right now, he’s a national title away from becoming the best coach in school history and maybe the No. 1 or No. 2 coaching college football — along with Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.
Next: MSU Football: Top 10 games of the Mark Dantonio Era
Dantonio has won 87 games in nine years, 52 Big Ten games, the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the Outback Bowl, two Big Ten Championship Games, three conference titles overall, three division titles and five 11-win seasons in the past six years along with a berth in the College Football Playoff this season.
Coach D is the best in program history.