30 Facts About Mark Dantonio

Mark Justin Dantonio was born on March 9,1956 and is a former American football coach and player.

Mark Dantonio led the Michigan State Spartans to three Big Ten Conference championships, and eight victories over archrival Michigan in 13 years.

In 2015, Mark Dantonio became the first head coach in Big Ten history to achieve at least 11 wins in five of six seasons.

In 2006, Mark Dantonio was hired as the Spartans head coach, returning to the school where he served six years as an assistant coach under Nick Saban and Bobby Williams.

Mark Dantonio's Spartans hold the active school record with four consecutive bowl wins.

On September 21,2019, with his 110th victory, Mark Dantonio became the winningest head coach in MSU football surpassing Duffy Daugherty.

On February 4,2020, Mark Dantonio announced he would be retiring as the head coach of the Michigan State football team after 13 seasons and 114 wins.

Mark Dantonio was born in El Paso, Texas, to Justin Dantonio and Maryan Dantonio.

Mark Dantonio is of Italian descent and Polish descent.

Mark Dantonio's father played basketball at Salem University and met his mother while teaching in El Paso.

When Mark Dantonio was one, the family moved to Zanesville, Ohio, where Justin became the vice principal and basketball coach at Zanesville High School.

Mark Dantonio earned a bachelor's degree in education from South Carolina in 1979.

Mark Dantonio later earned a master's degree in education from Ohio University in 1980.

Mark Dantonio began his coaching career at Ohio University, where he was a graduate assistant.

Mark Dantonio spent two years, in 1983 and 1984, as a graduate assistant at Ohio State University under head coach Earle Bruce.

When Nick Saban was hired at Michigan State in 1995, he hired Mark Dantonio to join his staff in East Lansing where he remained even after Saban left for LSU.

At Ohio State in 2001, Mark Dantonio reunited with his former Youngstown State boss and good friend Jim Tressel when he opted out of East Lansing to serve as defensive coordinator at Ohio State University for three seasons.

Mark Dantonio's defense became known as one of the stingiest in the country.

Mark Dantonio was named head coach at Cincinnati on December 23,2003.

Mark Dantonio became the first head coach in 23 years to lead the school to a winning season in his first season at UC.

Mark Dantonio became the 24th head coach at Michigan State on November 27,2006.

Mark Dantonio began his Michigan State career well at Spartan Stadium when on April 21,2007, Michigan State drew over 25,000 fans to watch the team's spring scrimmage game.

Mark Dantonio had a stent implanted in a blocked artery near his heart.

Mark Dantonio's doctor stated that the damage was minimal and that Dantonio was expected to make a full recovery.

Mark Dantonio had to watch the game from his hospital room.

Mark Dantonio was reportedly released from Sparrow Hospital around noon on October 4,2010.

Mark Dantonio led his team to a triple-overtime victory, his first bowl win at MSU.

In May 2013, four months after the end of the 2012 season, Mark Dantonio filmed himself at the Rose Bowl, predicting a successful 2013.

Mark Dantonio was named Big Ten Football Coach of the Year.

On February 4,2020, Mark Dantonio announced he was retiring as head coach.