Lansing Sun

Mark Dantonio, the most successful coach in Michigan State football history, was officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the National Football Foundation's 66th annual Awards Dinner held in Las Vegas. The ceremony took place at the Bellagio hotel on Tuesday night.

Reflecting on his induction, Dantonio described it as "a surreal moment and very humbling," adding that it was "what I call a program award." He emphasized the collaborative effort involved, saying, "There are so many different people that are involved in this."

During his time at Michigan State, Dantonio focused on building a culture based on hard work and toughness. "Whenever I see our players... it's about people, it's about growth and individuals," he said. Dantonio believes that finding leaders both on and off the field is key to achieving success.

MSU Vice President/Athletic Director Alan Haller attended the induction ceremony along with Mark Dantonio, men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo, and football head coach Jonathan Smith.

Dantonio participated in a panel discussion representing the three coaches inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame Class. During this event, he remarked on inspiring his players to dream big.

Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on January 8, 2024, Dantonio's official induction capped a year filled with accolades for the coach who led Michigan State to three Big Ten Championships. His name was also added to Spartan Stadium's Ring of Fame following an On-Campus Salute hosted by NFF during an MSU-Ohio State game.

In addition to being honored by Michigan State University for his achievements, Dantonio expressed gratitude toward those who contributed to his success. "I hope every one of these players that are here... sees a little bit of their name up on that award," he stated.

Looking ahead, Dantonio will be part of the 2024 Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Class with an induction ceremony scheduled for December 31. He will be recognized during events such as the Rose Parade and College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game in early January 2025.

After retiring from coaching in February 2020 following a notable career with a record of 114-57 at Michigan State (132-74 overall), Dantonio left behind an impressive legacy including multiple championships and bowl victories. His tenure saw him achieve more Big Ten Championships and bowl games than any other coach in school history while setting records for winning percentages and AP Top 25 finishes.

Dantonio became only one of seven Big Ten coaches with six or more ten-win seasons upon retirement. He also set milestones such as leading Michigan State through its winningest decade ever from 2010-2019 with significant accomplishments across numerous bowl games and championships.

Beyond coaching records, Dantonio emphasized personal relationships and education throughout his career which spanned over four decades across various institutions including Ohio State where he served as defensive coordinator prior to joining Cincinnati as head coach before eventually leading Michigan State.

Expressing appreciation for those who supported him along his journey—including mentors like Jim Tressel—and recognizing contributions from colleagues like Tom Izzo—Dantonio concluded by highlighting values such as work ethic alongside community involvement among principles guiding him throughout coaching endeavors:

"There were five things that I always talked about... personal relationships... importance of education... solid work ethic... being light within community... winning."

Alan Haller praised Coach D’s impact beyond tangible achievements: “Mark challenged us dream beyond what we believed possible,” while Tom Izzo celebrated their friendship stating: “When heard news couldn’t think anyone deserved more.”

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