With Jim Tressel now out at The Ohio State University, the search for a new head coach now begins. Of the names being thrown around include Urban Meyer, Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden and Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio.
Mark Dantonio is a Buckeye assistant coach under Jim Tressel and has had tremendous success at Michigan State University. However, if Ohio State comes knocking on Dantonio’s door to fill their head coaching vacancy, will he answer?
Former Lions linebacker and outspoken Ohio State alum Chris Spielman doesn’t see Dantonio taking the job. According to Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com, Spielman gave his take to Frank Beckmann on WJR-AM 760 Detroit.
“Dino’s great for Michigan State,” he told Frank Beckmann on WJR-AM 760 Detroit. “Would I go after Mark? I’d certainly interview Mark. But knowing Mark, he’d probably say, ‘I’m at Michigan State. This is my job; my team. I’m trying to build something here. I’ve got something going.’
“I don’t know why Mark would take the Ohio State job. Maybe he would, I don’t know. But when I think of Mark Dantonio, I don’t think of Ohio State. I think of Mark Dantonio as a Michigan State guy for as long as he wants to be or as long as he deserves to be.”
For the most part Spielman is right. Dantonio has really set some roots for himself at Michigan State and when you think of Dantonio as a head coach you don’t think of Ohio State you think of Michigan State. However the criteria that Ohio State is going to be looking for in a head coach, Mark Dantonio fits. He knows how to coach in the Big Ten, he recruits Ohio as well as Michigan, he’s been relatively successful running a Big Ten program, he’s familiar with Ohio State and he beats and hates Michigan.
One thing however that Dantonio has working against him, which could take his name out of the running and give MSU fans a sigh of relief is he is connected to Jim Tressel and Ohio State is more than likely going to distance themselves as much as they can from that regime.
Source: Mlive.com, WJR
