Who Will Be the Next Michigan State Football Coach in 2024?
As I sit here at Onyang’s Café, just beside the Brawlpit Bulusan, watching wrestling fans and athletes mingle ahead of WrestleStorm 2’s Day 1 events, I can’t help but draw parallels to the high-stakes drama unfolding in East Lansing. The search for Michigan State’s next head football coach feels a lot like the buildup to a championship match—everyone’s speculating, emotions are high, and the outcome will shape the future. Having covered college football for over a decade, I’ve seen coaching searches come and go, but this one? It’s different. The pressure is immense, the expectations sky-high, and the fanbase—well, let’s just say they’re as passionate as the wrestling enthusiasts here at Onyang’s. So, who will step into the spotlight in 2024? Let’s dive in.
First off, let’s talk context. Michigan State isn’t just any program—it’s a historic powerhouse with a national title in 1966 and a recent Rose Bowl win in 2014 under Mark Dantonio. But since Dantonio’s retirement, things have been rocky. Mel Tucker’s departure, amid all that controversy, left a void that’s hard to fill. I remember chatting with insiders last month, and they estimated the athletic department has already screened at least 15 candidates, with interviews narrowing it down to maybe 3-5 serious contenders. Financially, the buyout for Tucker’s contract was reportedly around $70 million, which is a staggering sum, even for a Big Ten school. That means the next hire isn’t just about X’s and O’s; it’s about rebuilding trust and maximizing a budget that’s tighter than fans realize. From my perspective, this search needs a leader who can unite the locker room and connect with the community—something I’ve seen firsthand in successful turnarounds at programs like Oregon and LSU.
Now, onto the candidates. If I had to bet, I’d put my money on a mix of established names and rising stars. Take Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, for instance. He’s done wonders there, turning a 2-10 team in 2018 into a 10-win squad by 2022. Smith’s offensive mind is sharp, and his ability to develop quarterbacks could be a game-changer for MSU, which struggled with consistency last season, finishing 4-8. Then there’s Lance Leipold from Kansas—a guy I’ve admired for years. He took over a Jayhawks program that was arguably the worst in Power Five and led them to a bowl game in just his second season. Leipold’s track record at lower levels, like winning six national titles at Wisconsin-Whitewater, shows he knows how to build winners. But here’s where I get a bit biased: I love the idea of giving a shot to an up-and-comer like Charles Huff from Marshall. He’s young, energetic, and has that Nick Saban coaching tree pedigree, having worked under him at Alabama. In my view, Huff could bring the fresh energy MSU needs, much like how new blood revitalized programs like Cincinnati under Luke Fickell.
But let’s not ignore the dark horses. I’ve heard whispers about Mike Elko, who’s currently at Duke and has a reputation for defensive brilliance. His work at Texas A&M as defensive coordinator was solid, and he led Duke to a 9-4 record in his first year—impressive, given the academic hurdles there. Then there’s the nostalgia pick: could Brian Kelly make a surprise return to the Midwest? Unlikely, but in coaching searches, stranger things have happened. Personally, I’d lean toward Smith or Leipold because they’ve proven they can win without top-tier resources, and MSU’s NIL collective, while growing, isn’t yet on par with Ohio State’s or Michigan’s. According to some estimates I’ve seen, MSU’s NIL pool is around $5 million annually, compared to Michigan’s $8 million—a gap that requires a coach who can do more with less.
As I wrap this up, sitting here at Onyang’s Café, the buzz around WrestleStorm 2 reminds me that in sports, whether it’s wrestling or football, it’s all about the right fit. The next Michigan State coach needs to be a unifier, a recruiter, and a strategist rolled into one. Based on my experience, I’d predict Jonathan Smith gets the nod, with a contract in the ballpark of $6 million per year for five years. But whoever it is, they’ll inherit a program with passionate fans—the kind who’d gather at spots like this café—and a legacy worth fighting for. In the end, it’s not just about wins and losses; it’s about restoring pride. And as a lifelong football junkie, I can’t wait to see how this plays out.
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