Michigan State is not entertaining the thought of moving on from Mark Dantonio after this season, Spartans AD Bill Beekman told the Lansing State Journal on Friday.
"That is not even a discussion," Beekman told the paper. "Mark’s our head coach, there’s no question about that."
Dantonio is an institution at Michigan State, having gone 111-55 now in his 13th season in East Lansing. Under Dantonio's direction, the Spartans have won three Big Ten titles, posted three consecutive AP top-6 finishes from 2013-15 and reached the College Football Playoff in 2015.
However, after a 7-6 finish last season, Dantonio controversially retained all of his offensive assistants while switching up their responsibilities. The move has worked, but only to a point; Michigan State has improved from 125th in yards per play to 104th, and from 126th in scoring to 110th.
Michigan State is 4-4 this season (2-3 Big Ten) while ranking 11th in the Big Ten in yards and yards per play and 12th in scoring.
Additionally, former recruiting director Curtis Blackwell is suing the athletics department over what he says was an unfair termination from the program. A judge ruled last month Dantonio must sit for a 7-hour deposition with no questions off-limits after the season.
Dantonio is due a $4.3 million retention bonus should he remain the Spartans' head coach through Jan. 15, 2020.
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