A former MSU quarterback has been selected to replace the fifth-winningest coach in Michigan high-school football history.

Bill Feraco, a letterman at MSU during the 1967 and 1968 seasons, will replace former East Lansing High School head coach Jeff Smith, who retired in the first week of December after 33 years of coaching.

"This is a tremendous opportunity, and to have it come to fruition is wonderful," Feraco said. "I'm very excited."

Feraco, 56, has been a varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach for Trojans football since the fall of 2000.

He also is an English teacher and is involved with the school's debate program.

East Lansing Athletic Director Tom Hunt said Feraco's leadership skills made him an attractive candidate.

"He's grabbed the bull by the horns and kept the team intact since we've been without a coach," Hunt said.

"We identified the best possible coach that we could."

Hunt said Smith's retirement was unexpected, and that the athletic department last month formed a search committee to find a replacement.

The 15-person committee was comprised of community and staff members, student athletes and administrators.

"We met and identified a coach's profile and certain things we'd like to see in a candidate," Hunt said. "From there, we identified those people to move on in the interview process."

Traits the committee looked for included someone who exemplifies a strong leader, is a good communicator, has knowledge of and experience in the sport, is able to connect with kids and is a good motivator.

After interviewing four candidates, the committee narrowed it down to two, who were interviewed Feb. 11.

The committee then made the recommendation to the building principal and superintendent that Feraco be offered the position.

Despite having big shoes to fill, Feraco said he's not intimidated by the idea of replacing Smith, whose record was 293-93-2 in 39 seasons, including 33 at East Lansing.

"It's no more imposing than the pressure I'll put on myself to perform well," he said.

"I'm a competitor, and I'm motivated enough to be in this position."

The program's success, Feraco said, will make the team work even harder than it has in the past.

"The schedule we play is very challenging, and we're anxious to meet the challenge," he said.

Before starting at East Lansing, Feraco coached at Lansing Catholic for a year in 1994 and at Eaton Rapids for six years in 1988-89 and 1995-98.

Feraco is originally from Irwin, Penn. He came to MSU in 1965 from Greensburg Central Catholic High.

He made the team but didn't see playing time his freshman year, and was 5-of-10 for 51 yards in the 1966 season, playing for a total of 17 minutes that year.

In 1967, Feraco was 32-of-72 for 375 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He also had 38 carries for a net of 13 yards and two touchdowns.

Listed as 5-foot-11, 186 pounds as a senior, he was 33-of-60 for 478 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions. In addition, he led the team in scoring with 42 points and had 63 carries for 78 yards and seven touchdowns.