Mark Dantonio Set for MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Induction
9/11/2025 2:52:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University will induct six individuals into its Athletics Hall of Fame for the 2025 Class on Friday, Sept. 12, including Mark Dantonio, the winningest football coach in MSU history. Dantonio joins Kenneth "Tony" Keyes (men's soccer), Kori Moster (volleyball), Caroline Powers (women's golf), Nick Simmons (wrestling) and Sam Vincent (men's basketball) in the 2025 Class. There will also be a special recognition at halftime of the MSU-Youngstown State football game on Sept. 13 for the 2025 Class.
The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, opened on Oct. 1, 1999, displays plaques of the 187 previous inductees. The charter class of 30 former Spartan student-athletes, coaches and administrators was inducted in 1992.
Mark Dantonio
Football (Head Coach 2007-2019; Secondary Coach 1995-2000)
Zanesville, Ohio
Mark Dantonio, the winningest coach in Michigan State football history, has been honored across the country in several Halls of Fame following his record-setting career, but this time, he will be enshrined in a building where he worked on campus while establishing the Spartan program as one of the best in the nation.
Following a year in which he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Dantonio becomes the sixth head football coach in Michigan State history to join the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
"For 13 years, we pushed forward to build something special – something timeless," said Dantonio. "This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of all those individuals who excelled and helped create a TEAM.
"This honor embodies the legacy we built together at MSU. Together, we 'Dreamed Big' and didn't just make history – we became a part of it."
Dantonio was also inducted into the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in June 2022 and was named the 2023 recipient of the "Heart of a Champion" Award at the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards ceremony in Houston.
After a storied 13 seasons as head coach of the Michigan State football program, Dantonio announced his retirement on Feb. 4, 2020. He finished his career with a record of 114-57 in East Lansing, 132-74 in 16 seasons overall. During his time at the helm of the Spartan program, Dantonio compiled an impressive list of accomplishments including three Big Ten Championships, two victories in the Big Ten Championship Game, victories in the 2014 Rose Bowl and the 2015 Cotton Bowl, and an appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff.
Beyond his record for most victories at MSU, Dantonio won more Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (six) than any other coach in school history, while also ranking first with 12 bowl appearances. His .639 (69-39) winning percentage in Big Ten games is also a school record, while he stands second in AP Top 25 finishes (seven), Big Ten wins (69), home wins (67) and AP Top 25 wins (21).
Dantonio's tenure at Michigan State also placed him among the best football coaches in Big Ten history. He retired as one of just seven Big Ten coaches to have at least six 10-win seasons on their resume and one of four to have at least five 11-win seasons. Dantonio finished his career ranked No. 11 in the Big Ten record books in both overall wins (114) and Big Ten wins (69). With MSU's win in the 2019 Pinstripe Bowl, Dantonio secured his sixth bowl victory, tying him for fourth most in Big Ten history.
A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2010, 2013), Dantonio led Michigan State to Top 25 finishes seven times (2008: No. 24 in both polls; 2010: No. 14 in both polls; 2011: No. 10 USA TODAY/No. 11 AP; 2013: No. 3 in both polls; 2014: No. 5 in both polls; 2015: No. 6 in both polls; 2017: No. 15 AP/No. 16 USA TODAY). MSU was the only school to finish in the top-six of the national polls from 2013-15 (No. 3 in 2013, No. 5 in 2014, No. 6 in 2015) and the 36 wins from 2013-15 marked the winningest three-year stretch in the history of the program.
The 2010s decade was the greatest in Michigan State history based on total wins, as the Spartans posted a 92-40 (.697) record from 2010-19. During that span, MSU won six bowl games (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2017 Holiday, 2019 Pinstripe), three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and three Big Ten Division titles (2011, 2013, 2015). The 92 wins were the seventh-most ever by any Big Ten team in a decade and the six bowl wins tied for second most by any Big Ten program in a decade.
Dantonio made history by becoming the first Big Ten coach to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span following MSU's 12-win campaign in 2015 (11 in 2010; 11 in 2011; school-record 13 in 2013; 11 in 2014; 12 in 2015). His five 11-win seasons were tied for third most in Big Ten history during the time of his retirement. Prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU had not recorded an 11-win season in its history, and had just two 10-win seasons (1965, 1999).
Michigan State played in a school-record nine consecutive bowl games from 2007-15 (2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at Cotton Bowl). Dantonio extended his school record with his 12th bowl game appearance in 2019 in the Pinstripe Bowl; he finished 6-6 in bowl games at Michigan State, including a school-record four-game winning streak (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton).
Michigan State had a record-setting season in 2013, winning a school-record 13 games, defeating No. 5 Stanford in the 100th Rose Bowl Game, beating No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and finishing No. 3 in both national polls, the highest ranking for the Spartans since 1966. Michigan State (13-1) became just the third team in Big Ten history to win 13 games in a season.
Dantonio won his 110th game as head coach at Michigan State with a 31-10 victory over Northwestern on Sept. 21, 2019, surpassing Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty for the most wins in school history. Dantonio had 11 winning seasons in his 13 years in East Lansing, tying Daugherty for the most winning seasons by a Spartan head coach.
A Zanesville, Ohio, native with Midwest ties, Dantonio spent 40 years in collegiate coaching, including 16 seasons as a head coach (three at Cincinnati from 2004-06; 13 at Michigan State from 2007-19) and 19 seasons overall in East Lansing (served as the Spartan secondary coach from 1995-2000). He returned to assist the Spartans in an off-field coaching role during the 2023 season as the program's associate head coach. Prior to his appointment at Cincinnati, Dantonio served as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State for three seasons (2001-03), where his defensive unit helped the Buckeyes to a combined record of 32-6, including the 2002 National Championship.
From the moment he stepped on campus, Dantonio was equally committed to success in the classroom. In his 13 seasons, a total of 238 players earned their undergraduate degrees. In addition, 219 Spartans earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, including nine Academic All-America selections.
Dantonio was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Jan. 8, 2024, his first year on the ballot, and the official induction in December 2024 capped a busy year of accolades for the three-time Big Ten Champion coach.
The National Football Foundation hosted the Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute on Sept. 28, 2024, in Spartan Stadium for the MSU-Ohio State game, and for becoming the latest Spartan in the College Football Hall of Fame, Dantonio's name was added to the Spartan Stadium Ring of Fame on the east upper deck.
Dantonio was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame at a ceremony held by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses on Dec. 31, 2024, and opened the New Year while being honored in the 136th Rose Parade and on the field at the Rose Bowl Game.
Dantonio was named to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee in March 2025 and his three-year term began in the spring.
The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, opened on Oct. 1, 1999, displays plaques of the 187 previous inductees. The charter class of 30 former Spartan student-athletes, coaches and administrators was inducted in 1992.
Mark Dantonio
Football (Head Coach 2007-2019; Secondary Coach 1995-2000)
Zanesville, Ohio
Mark Dantonio, the winningest coach in Michigan State football history, has been honored across the country in several Halls of Fame following his record-setting career, but this time, he will be enshrined in a building where he worked on campus while establishing the Spartan program as one of the best in the nation.
Following a year in which he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Dantonio becomes the sixth head football coach in Michigan State history to join the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
"For 13 years, we pushed forward to build something special – something timeless," said Dantonio. "This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of all those individuals who excelled and helped create a TEAM.
"This honor embodies the legacy we built together at MSU. Together, we 'Dreamed Big' and didn't just make history – we became a part of it."
Dantonio was also inducted into the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in June 2022 and was named the 2023 recipient of the "Heart of a Champion" Award at the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards ceremony in Houston.
After a storied 13 seasons as head coach of the Michigan State football program, Dantonio announced his retirement on Feb. 4, 2020. He finished his career with a record of 114-57 in East Lansing, 132-74 in 16 seasons overall. During his time at the helm of the Spartan program, Dantonio compiled an impressive list of accomplishments including three Big Ten Championships, two victories in the Big Ten Championship Game, victories in the 2014 Rose Bowl and the 2015 Cotton Bowl, and an appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff.
Beyond his record for most victories at MSU, Dantonio won more Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (six) than any other coach in school history, while also ranking first with 12 bowl appearances. His .639 (69-39) winning percentage in Big Ten games is also a school record, while he stands second in AP Top 25 finishes (seven), Big Ten wins (69), home wins (67) and AP Top 25 wins (21).
Dantonio's tenure at Michigan State also placed him among the best football coaches in Big Ten history. He retired as one of just seven Big Ten coaches to have at least six 10-win seasons on their resume and one of four to have at least five 11-win seasons. Dantonio finished his career ranked No. 11 in the Big Ten record books in both overall wins (114) and Big Ten wins (69). With MSU's win in the 2019 Pinstripe Bowl, Dantonio secured his sixth bowl victory, tying him for fourth most in Big Ten history.
A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2010, 2013), Dantonio led Michigan State to Top 25 finishes seven times (2008: No. 24 in both polls; 2010: No. 14 in both polls; 2011: No. 10 USA TODAY/No. 11 AP; 2013: No. 3 in both polls; 2014: No. 5 in both polls; 2015: No. 6 in both polls; 2017: No. 15 AP/No. 16 USA TODAY). MSU was the only school to finish in the top-six of the national polls from 2013-15 (No. 3 in 2013, No. 5 in 2014, No. 6 in 2015) and the 36 wins from 2013-15 marked the winningest three-year stretch in the history of the program.
The 2010s decade was the greatest in Michigan State history based on total wins, as the Spartans posted a 92-40 (.697) record from 2010-19. During that span, MSU won six bowl games (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2017 Holiday, 2019 Pinstripe), three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and three Big Ten Division titles (2011, 2013, 2015). The 92 wins were the seventh-most ever by any Big Ten team in a decade and the six bowl wins tied for second most by any Big Ten program in a decade.
Dantonio made history by becoming the first Big Ten coach to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span following MSU's 12-win campaign in 2015 (11 in 2010; 11 in 2011; school-record 13 in 2013; 11 in 2014; 12 in 2015). His five 11-win seasons were tied for third most in Big Ten history during the time of his retirement. Prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU had not recorded an 11-win season in its history, and had just two 10-win seasons (1965, 1999).
Michigan State played in a school-record nine consecutive bowl games from 2007-15 (2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at Cotton Bowl). Dantonio extended his school record with his 12th bowl game appearance in 2019 in the Pinstripe Bowl; he finished 6-6 in bowl games at Michigan State, including a school-record four-game winning streak (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton).
Michigan State had a record-setting season in 2013, winning a school-record 13 games, defeating No. 5 Stanford in the 100th Rose Bowl Game, beating No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and finishing No. 3 in both national polls, the highest ranking for the Spartans since 1966. Michigan State (13-1) became just the third team in Big Ten history to win 13 games in a season.
Dantonio won his 110th game as head coach at Michigan State with a 31-10 victory over Northwestern on Sept. 21, 2019, surpassing Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty for the most wins in school history. Dantonio had 11 winning seasons in his 13 years in East Lansing, tying Daugherty for the most winning seasons by a Spartan head coach.
A Zanesville, Ohio, native with Midwest ties, Dantonio spent 40 years in collegiate coaching, including 16 seasons as a head coach (three at Cincinnati from 2004-06; 13 at Michigan State from 2007-19) and 19 seasons overall in East Lansing (served as the Spartan secondary coach from 1995-2000). He returned to assist the Spartans in an off-field coaching role during the 2023 season as the program's associate head coach. Prior to his appointment at Cincinnati, Dantonio served as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State for three seasons (2001-03), where his defensive unit helped the Buckeyes to a combined record of 32-6, including the 2002 National Championship.
From the moment he stepped on campus, Dantonio was equally committed to success in the classroom. In his 13 seasons, a total of 238 players earned their undergraduate degrees. In addition, 219 Spartans earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, including nine Academic All-America selections.
Dantonio was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Jan. 8, 2024, his first year on the ballot, and the official induction in December 2024 capped a busy year of accolades for the three-time Big Ten Champion coach.
The National Football Foundation hosted the Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute on Sept. 28, 2024, in Spartan Stadium for the MSU-Ohio State game, and for becoming the latest Spartan in the College Football Hall of Fame, Dantonio's name was added to the Spartan Stadium Ring of Fame on the east upper deck.
Dantonio was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame at a ceremony held by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses on Dec. 31, 2024, and opened the New Year while being honored in the 136th Rose Parade and on the field at the Rose Bowl Game.
Dantonio was named to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee in March 2025 and his three-year term began in the spring.
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