Luke Fickell Reportedly Favorite To Replace Dantonio At MSU

75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E
With the news Tuesday that Mark Dantonio is stepping down as head football coach at Michigan State, the next question becomes: Who will replace him?
The frontrunner within the MSU athletic department is Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell, according to the Free Press. 

Fickell, who took over at Cincinnati in 2017, has led the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons. He was named Coach of the Year in the American Athletic Conference in 2018. He also served as interim head coach at Ohio State in 2011 when the Buckeyes went 6-7. 

Should Fickell leave Cincinnati for another job before the end of this year, he would reportedly owe the university a $2 million buyout.

MSU has named defensive coordinator Mike Tressel its acting head coach as it searches for a permanent replacement. Dantonio intends to continue in a special-projects role within the athletic department. 

Athletic director Bill Beekman praised Dantonio for his "outstanding leadership" during his 13-year tenure. 

“As the all-time winningest coach in school history, he’s raised the bar for Michigan State football," Beekman said in a statement. "He’s mentored young men and led them to success on the field, in the classroom and in life, while serving as a great ambassador for Michigan State University.

"As we begin the search for Mark’s successor, we will look for the right fit who will continue the success at both the conference and national level."