Tag: michigan state coaching search

Could Michigan State football make a run at Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman?

Rico Beard of 97.1 suggested that MSU should make a run at Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman. It’s not that crazy of an idea. Here’s why:

While many, including us at Spartans Wire, have outlined some options for who MSU should pursue to be their next head coach, it was 97.1 The Ticket host, Spartans Illustrated contributor, and noted Michigan State media member Rico Beard who has taken the airways and social media by storm, suggesting that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman should be the Spartans’ top choice as next head coach, as outlined by Fighting Irish Wire.

A new coaching search in East Lansing stems following a massive USA TODAY investigation, with Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller announcing to the public that the University plans to fire Mel Tucker for cause.

While on the surface, Beard’s comments felt a little outlandish, and even a bit of wishful thinking, but after digging into it, I’m here to tell Spartan Nation that I don’t think it is that crazy of an idea after all, and it actually could be very plausible.

You can find my reasoning below.

Michigan State football: A name to consider at head coach: LSU DC Matt House

An interesting name to consider for MSU’s next football coach:

A little more than a week ago, USA TODAY released a story outlining the sexual harassment allegations made against then Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker.

Now, Tucker has been placed on an unpaid suspension, and, as Lansing State Journal’s Graham Couch speculates, has potentially coached his last game in East Lansing.

Given the circumstances, many Spartan fans and local media members have started speculating who the next leader of the MSU football program could be. Spartans Wire made a list of 20 potential candidates, outlining who could be available.

One name not on the list but who could be a strong candidate is LSU defensive coordinator Matt House. He has not been talked about very much, but he has ties to MSU.

Below, we look at House and what makes him an appealing candidate:

Michigan State hockey: Potential candidates to replace Danton Cole

Ten names who could become Michigan State’s next hockey coach:

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller made the decision to move on from Danton Cole and to move the Michigan State hockey program in a new, fresh direction. Now, Haller is tasked with finding the right guy to move the program in the right direction.

On the surface, it appears that the next Spartan coach will have a lot of work in order to rebuild the program, but that is not necessarily the case. MSU is just finishing a huge renovation project, updating Munn Ice Arena and the hockey facilities connected to it, building a new weight room, training room and more for the players and team to enjoy.

The time is now for someone new to come in and bring the MSU hockey program back into the national spotlight. Let’s take a look at who some of the candidates to do that could be:

Michigan State reportedly loses assistant Terrence Samuel to UNLV

The former wide receivers coach is headed back to the offensive side of the ball at UNLV

In a time when Michigan State is attempting to add a coach, they just lost another one.

Former wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel, who was swapped to assistant defensive backs coach in the infamous coaching shuffle of 2019, has been hired away by UNLV to be their wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg first reported to the news.

Samuel has been with Michigan State for nine years, the first eight of which were spent coaching the receivers. During those eight seasons Samuel’s players earned All-Big Ten recognition eight times, including two Big Ten Receivers of the Year in Tony Lippett (2014) and Aaron Burbridge (2015). Five Spartan receivers have been drafted into the NFL since Samuel’s arrival in 2011 and that number could increase this year with Cody White and Darrell Stewart Jr. as potential selections.

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Former Michigan State football players call for Harlon Barnett to be next head coach

There’s no doubt who these former players want leading Michigan State next season.

It’s quite obvious who former Michigan State football players want to be the next head coach.

Not long after Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell declined the offer to be the next coach at MSU, tweets started pouring in from former players in support of former Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett. Barnett left Michigan State after the 2017 season to be the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Florida State. Barnett was not retained after former FSU coach Willie Taggart was fired and is currently without a coaching job.

Here’s just a sampling of some of the tweets in support of Barnett.

A lot of the players in the above tweets were specifically coached by Barnett, who was also defensive backs coach during his time at MSU. But it is certainly notable that there are some offensive players in there as well and some former players who never played under Barnett. Also included is Montez Sweat, who was kicked off the Michigan State team in 2016, but still has positive things to say about Barnett.

Who knows if former players rising around him in support will get Barnett a look at the job, but if it does and he ends up getting it, at the very least he’ll have the support of some very import alumni.

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Luke Fickell rebuffs Michigan State, stays at Cincinnati

The presumed frontrunner, Fickell elects to stay at Cincinnati.

The Michigan State football coaching such just got really dire, really fast.

Presumed frontrunner Luke Fickell has decided to stay at Cincinnati, declining the head coaching job at Michigan State according to multiple reports. Fickell interviewed with Athletic Director Bill Beekman Sunday in Cincinnati.

Yahoo’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the news.

There had been a lot of speculation and reporting that Michigan State and Fickell had come to an agreement and he would be named the next coach at MSU this week. Those reports were either unfounded or Fickell had a change of heart after discussing the situation with his family.

Either way, it’s February 10 and Michigan State is without a football coach and seemingly starting its coaching search over from square one.

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Michigan State AD Bill Beekman lands in Cincinnati for interview with Luke Fickell

Beekman is set to interview Fickell on Sunday

We’re on to Cincinnati.

Michigan State Athletic Director Bill Beekman has arrived in Cincinnati for an interview with Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell regarding the same position at Michigan State. That’s according to WLWT sports reporter Brandon Saho.

You can see in the video above Beekman departing a private plane, before departing in an SUV.

Earlier Saturday Colorado coach Mel Tucker announced on Twitter that he would be withdrawing his name from consideration for the Michigan State job. Tucker was reportedly scheduled to interview with Beekman this weekend. There have been conflicting reports as to whether or not that was ever the case, or if an interview ever happened.

Now it looks as if Fickell is the main candidate left standing for MSU. San Francisco 49er defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and Pittsburgh head coach Patt Narduzzi have all declined interest in the job.

Fickell was an assistant under Mark Dantonio at Ohio State and even served as interim coach of the Buckeyes for one season in 2011. He took over the Cincinnati program in 2017 and has amassed a 26-13 record over three seasons, including a 22-5 mark over the last two.

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