Michigan State and Iowa State select new football coaches

[Diamondback Jay]

The coaching circle continues..

First, in East Lansing, the Michigan State Spartans will be replacing John L. Smith with Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio.

Dantonio, a former defensive coordinator at Ohio State and at one time an assistant to both Nick Saban and Bobby Williams in East Lansing, has shepherded the Bearcats into the Big East Conference with success. His three-year record at Cincinnati is 18-17, including a 7-5 record this season against a difficult schedule. Cincinnati is awaiting a bowl bid.

Iowa State meanwhile is expected to hire Central Michigan's Brian Kelly as their new head coach tommorrow. Kelly has a record of 18-16 in three years at the helm of the Chippewa program, but really has done a nice job building the team back to respectability. Prior to heading to Central Michigan, Kelly was one of the most successful coaches in Division 2 history, leading Grand Valley State to national prominence and several championships.

Good hires by both teams.

 

[Russ Smith]

ugh that means Mariucci is available to take the Cardinal job.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

A sudden change to the Iowa State news.

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State plans to announce its new head football coach Monday night.

And based on the fact that University of Texas defensive coordinator Gene Chizik and members of his family were seen by reporters Monday being picked up at the Ames airport by Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, Chizik is the man who will replace Dan McCarney.

A school source told ESPN that the coach who arrives at the airport would be announced as the school's new football coach.

Earlier today, WOI-TV in Des Moines reported that Chizik would be the Cyclones' new football coach. Chizik, 43, has never been a head football coach at any level.

Iowa State has scheduled a 7 p.m. ET news conference to make its announcement official.

Reports earlier indicated that Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly, who has led the Chippewas to an 18-16 record the past three seasons, was regarded as the leading candidate to succeed McCarney. Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell and San Diego head coach Jim Harbaugh also were considered candidates.

School officials said Sunday they'd made a decision, but would not reveal it. In a letter to Iowa State fans, Pollard wrote that the new coach was "our number one choice from the first day of the search."

Chizik is wrapping up his second season as the assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator at Texas. He previously was the defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2002-04

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday that Harbaugh's agent, Jack Bechta, said Harbaugh was no longer a candidate.

Iowa State was 4-8 this season and 56-84 overall under McCarney, who resigned this year, and snapped a 22-year postseason drought with five bowl appearances in McCarney's final seven seasons.

 

[Assface]

ugh that means Mariucci is available to take the Cardinal job.

That was my first thought after reading that article. I really hope some college team signs him before the end of our season.