Michigan State is looking for a new head football coach after Mark Dantonio surprisingly stepped down on Tuesday, and Luke Fickell is being mentioned as a leading contender to replace him.
Numerous reporters have connected Fickell to the job. The Detroit Free Press said Fickell was described to them as a frontrunner for the job.
The Free Press’ Rainer Sabin also said he’s heard Fickell linked to the job.
Luke Fickell is the primary person I've heard linked to Michigan State as a replacement for Mark Dantonio, according to people in the coaching world.
— Rainer Sabin (@RainerSabin) February 4, 2020
While Michigan State might want to target Fickell, would the interest be reciprocal?
The Spartans have gone 7-6 in consecutive years and are in the same division as Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. Fickell currently has Cincinnati looking better in recruiting than Michigan State.
Luke Fickell has two four-star prospects (QB, OLB) and a four-star RB transfer in 2020 for Cincinnati.
Michigan State has zero four- or five-star prospects and zero four- or five-star transfers for 2020.
Just sayin.
— Wyatt Crosher (@wcrosher) February 4, 2020
Fickell went 4-8 in 2017, which was his first season at Cincinnati. He has followed with 11-2 and 11-3 seasons.
Schools will continue to have interest in him for coaching jobs as long as he keeps winning, so he may want to be very selective before leaving the Bearcats.
