Michigan State head coach, Mark Dantonio, announced Tuesday that he is stepping down from his beloved job.
What We Know:
- Dantonio, now 63, has been the head coach of the Michigan State University Spartans (MSU) for the past 13 seasons, achieving a solid record of 114–57. MSU won a total of three Big Ten titles under his leadership. The announcement came coincidentally after details of a lawsuit were made public about the coach allegedly committing NCAA violations.
- The former coach posted a tweet saying that he still wants to stay in the Michigan State athletic department “in a role involving special projects, especially transitioning our players, both current and incoming, to their next challenges”.
To all Spartans: Thank you for everything. You have truly helped my dreams come true. pic.twitter.com/uKkubvp1cW
— Mark Dantonio (@DantonioMark) February 4, 2020
- Attorneys for former Michigan State recruiting coordinator, Curtis Blackwell, filed court documents Thursday saying Dantonio “revealed major NCAA violations”. The details of those potential violations were revealed in court documents filed Monday night by one of Blackwell’s lawyers.
- A few violations on those documents list arranging jobs for players’ parents and illegal off-campus recruiting visits by Blackwell. Dantonio proceeded to deny any wrongdoing.
Dantonio’s decision to step down comes one day before National Signing Day on Feb. 5. Mike Tressel, Michigan State’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, will be his temporary replacement coach while the school searches for another candidate.
