MARK DANTONIO
Cincinnati head coach
Dantonio is in his third year as head coach of the Bearcats. Cincinnati finished 7-5 in 2004 and 4-7 in 2005 (the team's first year in the Big East). The team is 5-5 this season.
MSU ties: Dantonio coached the Spartans' defensive backs from 1995-00. During that period, MSU appeared in the Independence, Sun, Aloha and Florida Citrus bowls. The Citrus Bowl-winning team from 1999 boasted the No. 12 defense in the nation and finished with a 10-2 record.
Analysis: Like Todd Grantham, Dantonio has history with MSU, but he lacks the "winning" quality displayed by some of the other candidates. That may improve with time. Cincinnati has never been a football power. Dantonio isn't a front-runner, but he'd be a worthy candidate.
RON ENGLISH
Michigan defensive coordinator
English is in his fourth season in Ann Arbor. He was the secondary coach for his first three years and was promoted to defensive coordinator before this season. He has been a resounding success. The Wolverines have the No. 1 rushing defense in the country (29.9 yards per game). They're also No. 3 in total defense (231.5 yards per game) and No. 5 in scoring defense (12.1 points per game).
MSU ties: He is the enemy. English has never lost to MSU while at U-M.
Analysis: The stats don't lie. English calls the signals for the best defense in the country and may finish the year with a national championship on his résumé. His defensive backs consistently make All-Big Ten and even All-America teams. If you can't beat 'em, steal their coaches, right?
TODD GRANTHAM
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator
Grantham is in his second year with the Browns, who are No. 17 in the NFL in scoring defense and No. 19 in total defense. He also worked with the Indianapolis Colts (1999-01) and Houston Texans (2002-04), coaching the defensive line at both stops. Grantham also has nine years of experience as a college coach.
MSU ties: Grantham worked on Nick Saban's staff as a defensive line coach from 1996-98, when he then was named assistant head coach in '98. The Spartans ranked 13th in the nation in total defense in 1997.
Analysis: The track record for former NFL coaches returning to college is reason enough for fans to be excited about Grantham — just look at Pete Carroll and Charlie Weis. The Browns' defensive rankings are a bit deceiving, given that Cleveland has a terrible offense that keeps the defense on the field. His MSU ties are also a big plus.
BRIAN KELLY
Central Michigan head coach
Wherever Kelly has gone, he has won. His head coaching career record is 128-47-2. Kelly went to three Division-II Championship games at Grand Valley State and won two of them, in 2002 and 2003. He moved on to Central Michigan in 2004. The Chippewas struggled to a 4-7 record in Kelly's first year, but they went 6-5 in 2005 and are 7-3 in 2006.
MSU ties: None. But he's a Midwest coach with Midwest connections, which John L. Smith sorely lacked. Kelly should find the task of bringing players to MSU much easier than it was for Smith.
Analysis: Kelly's résumé is impressive, and it'd be nice for a coach to come to East Lansing and — in the words of Drew Stanton — not need a road map to get to Grand Rapids. But there's no telling whether Kelly could be a success in the Big Ten. Smith also had an impressive record before he was hired to coach the Spartans.
BO PELINI
LSU defensive coordinator
The Tigers are second in the nation in overall and scoring defense after ranking third in those categories last season. The 38-year-old, in his second year as the defensive coordinator, was co-defensive coordinator for Oklahoma in 2004 when the Sooners played in the national championship game and was defensive coordinator at Nebraska in 2003. He also has nine years of experience as an NFL position coach.
MSU ties: After Nebraska head coach Frank Solich was fired in November 2003, Pelini was named interim head coach. The only game he coached? A 17-3 win against the Spartans in the Alamo Bowl.
Analysis: While most of his coaching experience is in the NFL or at colleges in the South, Pelini's roots are in the Midwest. He is from Youngstown, Ohio, and played safety at Ohio State from 1987-90. So if MSU is looking for a candidate who is both qualified and understands the landscape of football in the Midwest, it seems Pelini is the best fit.
PAT SHURMUR
Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach
Shurmur is in his eighth season. In his time in charge of quarterbacks, Donovan McNabb made three Pro Bowls and led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2005. Shurmur also coached 11 seasons at the college level.
MSU ties: Nine of Shurmur's 11 years of college coaching experience were spent at MSU. During that time, he coached the tight ends, special teams and offensive line under George Perles and Nick Saban. Before coaching the Spartans, Shurmur spent four years playing center for them in the mid-1980s.
Analysis: If understanding the MSU program and university is the main criteria the MSU administration is looking for in the next coach, then Shurmur has to be at the top of the list. Because of his relative youth and understanding of Big Ten football, Shurmur would bring energy and vigor to MSU football and recruiting. His NFL experience could also be a selling point to recruits. What really hurts him is his lack of experience as a coordinator or head coach.
CHARLIE STRONG
Florida assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
Strong, in the midst of his fourth stint with Florida, began his coaching career in Gainesville as a graduate assistant in 1983. He also spent time with Texas A&M, Southern Illinois, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He returned to Florida as a defensive coordinator in 2003. Strong has also been the position coach for outside linebackers, defensive tackles and defensive ends.
MSU ties: None. He's an SEC guy through and through. He has coached against MSU twice when he was the defensive tackles coach at Notre Dame from 1995 to 1998.
Analysis: Just look at the guy. Doesn't he seem like the kind of coach you'd want in charge of your favorite football team? His last name is "Strong," after all. After four years of offensive-minded football, Strong would be a refreshing change in philosophy. The Spartans need a tough, disciplined, hard-nosed defense.
JON TENUTA
Georgia Tech associate head coach/defensive coordinator
Defense has been superb under Tenuta, ranking in the Top 25 in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense in '04 and '05. This year, the Yellow Jackets rank No. 17 in rush defense, No. 28 in total defense and No. 24 in scoring defense. They are in sole possession of first place in the ACC's Coastal Division.
MSU ties: None. But he's not unfamiliar with the Midwest. Tenuta was Ohio State's defensive backs coach from 1996-99, and was the Buckeyes defensive coordinator in 2000. He's a native of Columbus, Ohio.
Analysis: Of the five defensive coordinators profiled, Tenuta is probably the least known and least attractive head coaching prospect. But Tenuta would be a solid hire. As defensive backs coach at Ohio State from 1996-99, four of his players were first-round draft picks. He also led a 2001 North Carolina defense that featured NFL star Julius Pepper. That's what sells to recruits.
