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Michigan State football: 5 head coaching candidates that everyone would get behind

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 16, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer runs onto the field for the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer runs onto the field for the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nearly a month into the coaching search, Michigan State football fans have been throwing out some interesting names left and right.

I’ve covered everything from the unrealistic options, to the nightmare options, to the most realistic options, to the candidates that would make the fanbase revolt.

Now, let’s move on to some positive candidates.

Here are five guys who everyone in the fanbase could get behind.

And no, I’m not including Urban Meyer because that’s too easy.

I will admit, I was hesitant to consider Lance Leipold early on because of his age (he’ll be 60 in May), but when you look at his resume and proven track record, it’s hard not to fall in love.

The 59-year-old Kansas head coach has worked his way up the ladder of the coaching ranks, going from Division III assistant to FBS assistant back to Division III assistant and then Division III head coach at Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2007. All he did there was win six national titles in eight years, compiling a 109-6 overall record. He was then hired by Buffalo in 2015.

At Buffalo, he turned the program around, going 2-10 in year two and then 10-4 in year four. He made three straight bowl games before getting brought in at Kansas.

The Jayhawks had one of the worst Power Five programs in the country and that showed in year one as he went 2-10, but then he won six games in 2022 and now they’re 5-2 to start 2023 and have flirted with the AP Top 25 multiple times.

Leipold is a quick program-changer. He could turn MSU back in the right direction swiftly.

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