Jonathan Smith plans to lean on Mark Dantonio as he builds Michigan State program

New Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith knows there’s a recipe to succeed in East Lansing. And he plans to lean on the man who last executed it best: Mark Dantonio.

During a 13 year run with the Spartans from 2007 to 2019, Michigan State went 114-57 and won three Big Ten titles. He also guided the Spartans to the College Football Playoff in 2015.

“I hope Coach D, had an awesome conversation yesterday, spoke with him on the phone Saturday when it was announced. Definitely plan on leaning on him because you’re right, he did it at the highest level,” Smith said at his introductory press conference.

Specifically, Smith lauded the way Dantonio developed players and mined overlooked talent on trail. For years, the Spartans excelled by identifying and developing mid-level Midwest recruits into top-tier college football players.

Smith wants to emulate that recipe.

“The idea of sustainability and development, me and him were in cahoots on how we want to approach this thing. Now, this is a little bit different landscape from 2010 to ’20 and how this has changed. So you’ve gotta be able to navigate. But I think there are some core principles of development and recruiting that can last a lifetime and I plan on doing it,” Smith said.

Dantonio played a role in picking Smith to lead the Spartans

After going on a coaching search to replace Mel Tucker, Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller landed on Smith to take over the football program.

Haller says that a lot of research went into this decision. That included reaching out to Dantonio for help finding a good candidate.

“I looked at YouTube videos, watched film, looked at articles,” Haller said. “There’s probably three or four industry people that did a lot of research for me. Dantonio was awesome with all his contacts. He talked to a lot of the elite coaches out there, current and former. He did a lot of research for me.”

Haller then clarified that Dantonio helped him by reaching out to people he knew within college football.

“Worked with him. He found former student-athletes. He found media members that spoke highly of him and other candidates. So, I had a lot more research than I did last time.”

Mark Dantonio isn’t the only coaching figure around Michigan State with strong opinions about Jonathan Smith. Legendary basketball coach Tom Izzo also praised the hire.

“And Jonathan Smith, that was a decision that Alan made that I think’s going to be a very good decision,” Izzo said. “I have been impressed, did not know him that well, talked to him one time. I have been impressed and very impressed last night getting the chance to sit down face to face for an hour and a half. I just think he brings maybe who we are. He’s kind of a blue collar attitude, too.”