Mark Dantonio named one of the top 10 college football coaching hires since 2000

If you're a Michigan State football fan, Mark Dantonio holds a special place in your heart.

The Spartans were one of the laughing stocks of the Big Ten for years after Nick Saban left suddenly for LSU and that didn't change until Dantonio took over in 2007. He still had some bumps in the road early on (the "little brother" game, for one) but he focused up and led Michigan State to its most successful stretch of seasons since the 1960s.

Hiring Dantonio from Cincinnati over someone like Brian Kelly was seen as a massive victory for the Spartans, and looking back, it has to be considered one of the best hires in the sport in years.

According to CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah, Dantonio to Michigan State is one of the 10 best coaching hires in college football since 2000.

The top two guys on the list are very familiar with Spartan fans as well as Saban coached at Michigan State until the turn of the century and Urban Meyer was rumored to be an option for the program after Mel Tucker was fired.

Jim Harbaugh coming in at No. 6 ahead of Dantonio isn't a huge surprise seeing as he led the Wolverines to their first national title since 1997, but you could argue the Spartans should've won one back in 2013 when they won the Rose Bowl -- that pass interference game vs. Notre Dame still haunts us all.

Dantonio finished his Michigan State coaching career with 114 career wins, three Big Ten titles, three Big Ten title game appearances, a Rose Bowl, a Cotton Bowl, six 10-plus win seasons, and a College Football Playoff appearance. Oh, and countless NFL Draft picks and numerous two and low-three-star recruits turned into pros.

Yes, Dantonio was easily a top-10 hire since 2000. Probably deserving of higher than No. 10.