Mark Dantonio, HEAD COACH
 

Mark Dantonio, who coached Cincinnati for the past three seasons and was a former assistant coach at Michigan State for six years, was named Michigan State University's 24th head football coach on Monday, Nov. 27.

The 50-year old Dantonio established himself as one of the nation's up-and-coming coaches during his three-year tenure at Cincinnati. In 2006, Dantonio led the Bearcats to a 7-5 overall record and a 4-3 BIG EAST mark, making Cincinnati bowl eligible for the second time in three years. Dantonio accomplished the feat against the second-toughest schedule in the country, as UC's opponents compiled a 69-42 record. His Bearcats upset then-No. 7 Rutgers, 30-11, on Nov. 18, handing the Scarlet Knights their first loss of the season and marking the highest-ranked opponent ever defeated by UC.

Highly respected as one of the top defensive coaches in the country, Dantonio's Bearcats rank 21st nationally in tackles for loss, 23rd in pass efficiency defense, 27th in rushing defense and 36th in total defense in the latest NCAA statistics.

Dantonio compiled an 18-17 overall record in his three years at Cincinnati and led the program in its transition to the BIG EAST Conference. He became the first head coach in 23 years to direct a team to a winning season in his first year at UC. The Bearcats' went 7-5 in 2004, including a 5-3 mark in Conference USA to finish second in the league standings, and defeated Marshall in the Fort Worth Bowl.
Mark Dantonio (South Carilina, 1979)

Record at Cincinnati as Head Coach: 18-17, .520 (three years)

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College - Graduate assistant at Ohio U. (1980); graduate assistant at Purdue (1981); defensive coordinator at Butler (Kan.) Junior College (1982); graduate assistant at Ohio State (1983-84); defensive secondary coach at Akron (1985); defensive secondary coach and defensive coordinator at Youngstown State (1986-90); defensive secondary coach at Kansas (1991-94); defensive secondary coach (1995-2000) and associate head coach (2000) at Michigan State; defensive coordinator at Ohio State (2001-03)

Assistant Coaches:

Don Treadwell (Miami (Ohio), 1982), offensive coordinator
Mark Staten (Miami (Ohio), 2001), tight ends and recruiting coordinator
Harlon Barnett (Michigan State University, 1990), secondary
Mike Tressel (Cornell(Iowa) College, 1996), linebackers/special teams
Brad Salem (Augustana, 1992), running backs
Ted Gill (Idaho State,1973),defensive line
Dave Warner (Syracuse, 1982), quarterbacks
Pat Narduzzi (Rhode Island, 1990), defensive coordinator
Dan Roushar (Northern Illinois, 1984), offensive line

Tim Allen (Bethel College,1988) Director of Football Operations
Ken Mannie (Akron, 1974) Head Strength & Conditioning Coach

Dino Folino (Villanova, 1971) Director of Player Development
Tommy Hoke (UNC Wilmington,1990) Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Brad Lunsford ( Michigan State University, 1994 )