Michigan State football hasn’t fired Mel Tucker yet, but here are three replacement candidates for this offseason if he is let go.
Things have moved quickly for Michigan State football and head coach Mel Tucker, who has been suspended without pay according to the University.
Tucker is being investigated for violating the school’s sexual harassment policy. This investigation has been ongoing, but it’s hard to say what the outcome will be.
If Mel Tucker is fired from his job as the head coach of Michigan State football, it would seem to be for cause due to this investigation.
And if that does happen, here are three candidates the Spartans should consider.
3. Jason Candle, Toledo
Jason Candle would make a lot of sense. He’s a proven winner and in his ninth season at Toldeo. His record is 55-33 including a 1-1 start this season.
Candle’s team has three nine-win seasons and MAC championships, as well as six bowl games. This hire might not generate a ton of buzz among the Michigan State football fanbase, but Candle is a really good coach and some program is going to hire him soon.
It might seem like a leap, but his Ohio ties should help with recruiting. Plus, he probably won’t come with the gigantic price tag that could be required to lure some others to coach the Spartans.
Candle has been waiting for the right opportunity to leave Toledo and this might be it. He has more of an offensive background, which would be a change too and he’s going to be a solid hire for someone, so might as well be MSU.
Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh HC
Of all the potential Michigan State football head coaching candidates, few will make more sense than Pat Narduzzi who spent nearly a decade as the Spartans defensive coordinator.
Narduzzi coordinated two defenses that won Big Ten championships. The Spartans were also 6-1 against Michigan during his time on the coaching staff in East Lansing.
At Pittsburgh, Narduzzi has done a really solid job, winning two division titles, as well as an ACC championship. It might be tough to get him away from the Panthers who have turned into a contender in the ACC and have a solid recruiting base in Pennslyvania.
However, there’s no doubt that the ACC is lagging behind the race between conferences, which could be an incentive for Narduzzi to jump ship. He’s averaged seven wins per season right now and all of his ties would make Michigan State football fans love the hire.
The Mark Dantonio era was a golden era for Spartans fans and Narduzzi has strong ties to it, so he would only make sense.
Brian Hartline, OC Ohio State
To me, this is the best move Michigan State football could make. Hartline nearly left Ohio State for Cincy last year and this seems like a move he would make.
It’s possible that Hartline is waiting for the head coaching job, but Luke Fickell might have something to say about that.
Hartline is a spectacular recruiter and with his NFL background, he does a great job of developing wide receivers as we have seen over the past few years.
The former Buckeye is now the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He’s also a hot commodity and a Big Ten head coaching job would have to appeal to him.
Beyond that, Hartline would be an ideal fit. He could bring talented athletes to East Lansing and he shares a hatred of Michigan that Michigan State fans would appreciate.
It would be a hard pull and Narduzzi might be more realistic. However, if Tucker is ultimately fired, any of the three head coaches on this list would be solid replacements for MSU.