It has been a long road for the Michigan State fan base, but that road is finally coming to an end. MSU has reportedly been conducting interviews with candidates that they have vetted over the last two months and are looking to zero in on their next leader.
There have been some leaks on guys who have interviewed for the job, and some sources have shared some names with Spartans Wire, giving us a good idea who is in the mix to take over the Spartans football program.
Let’s take a look at where Spartans Wire ranks the candidates that are reportedly in the mix for MSU’s job:
Of note...
Lance Leipold has been in previous versions of the coaching candidate power rankings, but for now, he is being excluded from my list. There is no indication that Leipold has interviewed for the position, and with his large buyout at Kansas – along with the high salary it will take to get him to leave KU – I do not believe he is a finalist at this time.
7. Harlon Barnett (Michigan State interim HC)
No one is denying, discrediting or even disputing that Harlon Barnett is a true Spartan and bleeds green. Unfortunately, as much as he wants the job, it doesn’t make sense to elevate Barnett as the permanent head coach, although he does deserve the chance to interview.
What is one way Barnett as head coach could work? Overhauling the offensive staff and hiring an electric offensive coordinator like Sean Lewis or Tim Cramsey to lead that side of the ball would be a good start.
At the end of the day, Coach Barnett did a great job keeping the train on the tracks and should be applauded for taking on that difficult job, and he may be welcomed back in a assistant coach role, but it’s time for a new leader of MSU football.
6. Alex Atkins (Florida State OC)
Alex Atkins is a name that has quietly gotten inserted into the MSU coaching search, and I have heard he may have conducted a virtual interview with the Spartans brass.
Atkins has an offensive line coach background, and has coached some very good offensive lines along with some great running offenses. Since taking over at Florida State, he has gotten nothing but rave reviews.
At the end of the day, without prior head coaching experience, I don’t think he will end up getting this job, but someone is going to make a good hire when they bring Atkins in to leading their program.
5. Jedd Fisch (Arizona HC)
Jedd Fisch is the most notable candidate that has taken a small slide from version 2.0 to 3.0. As I have dissected his candidacy, Fisch has more red flags than those listed ahead of him.
Amongst the red flags, until Arizona, Fisch has yet to stay at one spot for more than two years, not to mention only one head coaching position where he is 14-21.
All things considered, Fisch would be a good hire, and turning around Arizona in such quick fashion has some allure, but I cannot move him higher than 5.
4. Jason Candle (Toledo HC)
Is it crazy to have Jason Candle over Jedd Fisch? Some would say so, but I am a huge fan of Candle and would support the decision to hire him to lead the MSU program. There are a lot of pros and very few cons when you breakdown Candle as a candidate.
Rumors are circulating that Candle is one of the candidates that is moving on in the interview process and he is an underdog to get this job.
3. Dave Doeren (NC State HC)
Dave Doeren is a Midwest guy who is 103-61 in his coaching career, along with going 80-57 in 11 seasons at NC State. Doeren knows how to build a program and sustain success.
FootballScoop had reported that MSU and Doeren were in talks, confirming what I have maintained in version 1.0 and 2.0 of the power rankings, that Doeren is a sneaky candidate to get the position.
2. Mike Elko (Duke HC)
Mike Elko has been a top candidate for this job from the minute it opened up, and he would be a home run hire for the program. Duke has taken a small dip this season, but that team has been riddled with injuries.
Elko has done outstanding job turning around Duke very quickly, along with the great work he has done as a defensive coordinator in his career.
1. Jonathan Smith (Oregon State HC)
The new man in the top spot is Jonathan Smith. The only concern I have had throughout this process is that Smith has only coached out west, and never in the Midwest, but I have gotten over that, obviously.
Smith coaches a tough, bring your lunch pail to work type of program. His program dominates the line of scrimmage, is a pesky defensive team, and Smith has a history of coaching really good offenses at Washington as an OC and now OSU as a head coach.
