Dec 28, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during the first quarter against the Washington State Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium. Photo Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is not planning to resign in the wake of the sexual assault accusations against the football program and the university.
Dantonio, who has been Spartans coach since 2007, rejected rumors that he is leaving by issuing a statement Saturday.
The scandal involving the university and Dr. Larry Nasser, a team doctor at Michigan State and for USA Gymnastics, has already cost school president Lou Anna Simon and athletic director Mark Hollis their jobs.
“I have received many questions and inquiries about today’s reports and the latest reports. I’m here tonight to say that any accusations of my handling of any complaints of sexual assault individually are completely false,” Dantonio said in the statement. “Every incident reported in that article was documented by either police or the Michigan State Title IX office. I have always worked with the proper authorities when dealing with cases of sexual assault.”
According to an ESPN Outside the Lines report, a minimum of 16 football players were accused of sexual assault or violence against women during Dantonio’s tenure.
–Louisville is expected to name Brian VanGorder as its new defensive coordinator, according to a published report.
VanGorder will leave Oklahoma State to take the defensive reins at Louisville, Footballscoop.com reported. The news was confirmed by Cardinal Authority.
The 58-year-old VanGorder was a defensive analyst at Oklahoma State last season and was scheduled to be an assistant on the field next season.
VanGorder has ties to Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino when both were on the staff of the Atlanta Falcons. He takes the place of Peter Sirmon, who was not brought back after one season.
–Kansas State defensive coordinator Tom Hayes is planning to retire, multiple media outlets reported.
Hayes will call it quits after spending seven seasons — the past six as defensive coordinator — with the Wildcats, according to a report by GoPowercat.com and confirmed by the Kansas City Star.
It ends a coaching career spanning more than 40 years dating to 1977 for Hayes, including stops with the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints. He has served as the defensive coordinator at UCLA, Oklahoma, Stanford and Kansas over his career. He also was the interim head coach at Kansas in 2001.
