former Michigan State football head coach Mark Dantonio walks around Spartan Stadium during the Spartans' 37-33 win against the Wolverines on Oct. 30, 2021.
Former Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio will kick off Michigan State University’s 2024 graduation season as the speaker, the school announced Thursday.
Dantonio, the all-time winningest coach in MSU football history, will address all bachelor's degree candidates and receive an honorary Doctorate of Education at MSU’s spring convocation at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 26.
Over 9,000 graduating Michigan State Spartans this spring will hear from one of the school’s most prominent figures of the century. All graduation ceremonies will be held at the Breslin Center.
Dantonio was inducted into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024 this past December. After stepping down in 2020, he returned to MSU’s football program in 2023 as a special advisor to interim head coach Harlon Barnett following Mel Tucker’s firing.
In 13 storied seasons as MSU’s football head coach from 2007 to 2019, Dantonio and his teams tallied a 114-57 record with three Big Ten championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015, a Rose Bowl victory in 2014, a Cotton Bowl win in 2015 and an appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff.
In addition to his record for most wins as MSU football coach, Dantonio won more Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (six) than any other coach in school history. He also ranks first with 12 bowl appearances.
As a two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Dantonio led MSU to Top-25 finishes seven times, tying Spartan legend Duffy Daugherty for the most in program history.
Dantonio received the 2016 Stallings Award honoring college head football coaches for their contributions in their community and achievements on the field.
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