Texas reportedly interested in Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio as well

Texas athletic director Steve Patterson wants to interview Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, according to a report from Chip Brown of Orange Bloods. Brown also reports that Patterson has already interviewed Louisville’s Charlie Strong and Vanderbilt’s James Franklin.

If Texas has indeed spoken with Strong, it apparently didn’t do so with permission from Louisville. The Longhorns have not asked for permission to speak with the Cardinals head coach, per Jody Demling of Cardinal Authority. In addition to Dantonio, Strong and Franklin, the Orange Bloods report lists several other candidates that could be drawing interest.

Dantonio is on the verge of coaching the Spartans in the Rose Bowl, their first appearance in the Grandaddy of them All since 1988. In seven years as the head coach in East Lansing, Dantonio is 63-29 overall and 38-18 in Big Ten play. He has recorded 11-plus wins in three of the last four seasons, and MSU upset then-No. 2 Ohio State in this season’s Big Ten Championship Game.

Strong led Louisville to a 36-9 win over Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Saturday. Franklin and his Commodores are set to face Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 4.

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