Mark Dantonio has had a lot of success with the Michigan State Spartans, but there is a chance that he could choose to leave this coming offseason. After firing longtime head coach Les Miles, the LSU Tigers could very well make a strong run at convincing Dantonio to leave Michigan State and take their job.
It wouldn’t be easy for Dantonio to leave Michigan State, but LSU can give him a lucrative offer.
Replacing Miles isn’t going to be easy for the LSU football program. He coached the Tigers for 148 games and compiled a 114-34 record at LSU. That isn’t something that a program easily forgets or that the fan base forgets when a new head coach is hired, and they look to compare that coach to Miles.
Could Mark Dantonio be a candidate for the LSU job? @JamieSamuelsen thinks this is baloney. https://t.co/DVa7lhPJ1L
— Stoney & Jansen with Heather (@StoneyJansen) September 27, 2016
Dantonio has put together a successful career with the Spartans in the 10 seasons that he has been their head football coach. He has compiled an 89-35 record with Michigan State.
What would make Dantonio leave the comfort of his job at Michigan State to become LSU’s new coach?
Jason Kirk of SB Nation mentioned that Dantonio could be one of the top fits for the Tigers. He mentioned quite a few other names as well, but Dantonio hasn’t been talked about a lot as a potential candidate for the position.
First of all, coaching in the SEC for one of the most storied schools in conference history has to be a draw. He would immediately have a great recruiting power that the Spartans simply don’t have. Dantonio would also be coaching on a much bigger stage than the Big Ten can offer him at this point in time.
At 60-years-old, Dantonio has time for one more long-tenured stop in his college coaching career. LSU would be the place to land if he truly wants to make the big leap from the Big Ten to the SEC.
First 3 calls if we’re LSU: @MelKiperESPN : 1)Tom Herman, 2)Mark Dantonio, 3)Bobby Petrino. Mine: 1)Herman, 2)Jimbo Fisher, 3)Dan Mullen.
— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) October 1, 2016
Outside of Dantonio, there are a ton of different options that LSU could look at. Jimbo Fisher is one of the big names that has been mentioned in rumors, while Tom Herman and Lane Kiffin have also been talked about as potential candidates. All three of those coaches would be good additions, but Dantonio could be the least hyped coach with the best possible fit for the Tigers.
Dantonio has proven himself throughout his career with the Spartans. He has put together strong defenses to go along with successful and creative offenses. Michigan State’s football program has grown immensely under Dantonio’s leadership, and he can have that same impact on LSU if they offer him the job.
Perhaps the biggest issue that led to Miles’ firing was his unwillingness to change his offense. Cam Cameron, the LSU offensive coordinator, was also fired at the same time that Miles was relieved of duty.
Mark Dantonio: Current Spartans “Haven’t Experienced The Pain” https://t.co/Soudr6yI7p #MSU #Dantonio
— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) October 5, 2016
LSU would be getting a much better offensive mind in Dantonio, and he has an excellent staff that would likely come with him. There is a good chance that he will keep Ed Orgeron if he does end up being hired to take the LSU head coaching position.
Needless to say, it will be very interesting to see what the future holds for LSU and their coaching search. The program has been proud for a long time and that will not change. They will get an elite head coach, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Dantonio’s name gets thrown into the mix at some point.
Whether or not he has an interest in leaving Michigan State, even for a better job, is not known at this time.
Do you think the LSU Tigers should make a run at Mark Dantonio to fill their head coaching vacancy? Would it be a wise move for him to leave Michigan State to coach in the SEC? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Featured Image by Nati Harnik/AP Images]