MSU’s Mark Dantonio, UM’s Steve Hutchinson to enter College Football Hall of Fame

Just hours before the biggest college football game of the season, former Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio earned one of the biggest honors in the sport.

Dantonio was among three coaches and 19 players who were elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, with the induction ceremony set for December in Las Vegas, the National Football Foundation announced Monday night.

Also elected was former Michigan All-American guard Steve Hutchinson.

Dantonio, 67, was Michigan State's head coach for 13 seasons and retired as the winningest coach in program history, with a 114-57 record. For his career, he was 132-74, including three seasons as head coach at Cincinnati.

He led the Spartans to three Big Ten championships, and wins in the 2014 Rose Bowl and 2015 Cotton Bowl. He also led MSU to its only appearance in the College Football Playoff.

"I felt very humbled and overwhelmed by the significance of the moment," Dantonio said in a statement released by MSU on Monday night. "When I became a head coach, we wanted to build things that would last and have a positive impact on each individual.

"There are so many people involved in this honor. I want to thank my family; my staff and their families and eeryone that was a part of this program; the administration; Spartan fans; and most importantly the players.

"I feel extremely blessed to be included in this 2024 prestigious group."

Dantonio is joined in the Class of 2024 by fellow coaches Denny Hale (West Chester, Bloomsburg) and Frank Solich (Nebraska, Ohio).

Dantonio is the second coach with Michigan ties to make the Hall of Fame in as many years, after legendary Central Michigan coach Roy Kramer was inducted last month.

Joining Hutchinson among the players in the Class of 2024 are wide receiver Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), tailback Paul Cameron (UCLA), quarterback Tim Couch (Kentucky), running back Warrick Dunn (Florida State), quarterback Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State), cornerback Deon Figures (Colorado), wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh), running back Toby Gerhart (Stanford), defensive tackle Dan Hampton (Arkansas), cornerback Antonio Langham (Alabama), wide receiver Randy Moss (Marshall), defensive end Julius Peppers (North Carolina), linebacker Paul Posluszny (Penn State), noseguard Dewey Selmon (Oklahoma), quarterback Alex Smith (Utah), cornerback Kevin Smith (Texas A&M), offensive tackle Chris Ward (Ohio State) and running back Danny Woodhead (Chadron State).

Hutchinson, 46, was on the last Michigan team to win a national championship, in 1997, with the Wolverines going for another Monday night against Washington. Hutchinson was a two-time All-American, including a unanimous selection as a senior before going on to a 13-year NFL career, in which he was All-Pro five times.

Dantonio, who returned to the sidelines in 2023 as an adviser to interim head coach Harlon Barnett following the firing of Mel Tucker, won six bowl games at Michigan State, a perogram record. He led the Spartans to 12 bowl games, seven top-25 finishes in the Associated Press poll, and 21 wins against top-25 opponents.

In a statement Monday, he thanked several of his coaching mentors, including Jim Tressel, Nick Saban, his old high-school coach, Ron Apperson, and his college position coach at South Carolina, Dale Evans. He also thanked former Cincinnati athletic director Bob Goin and former Michigan State AD Mark Hollis and president Lou Anna K. Simon.

Dantonio also thanked Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo.

"Mark Dantonio clearly has the records, the bowl wins, the resume of a Hall of Famer, but for me, his legacy is something even greater," MSU athletic director Alan Haller said Monday. "Coach D created a lifetime of memories for Spartans around the world, unifying alumni, families and friends throughout the entire Michigan State community around championships, milestones and celebrations.

"He challenged us to dream beyond what we belived was possible, and proved that dreams do come true."

Dantonio, a two-time Big Ten coach of the year who is one of seven Big Ten coaches to log at least six 10-win seasons, will become the fifth former Michigan State head coach to b inducted the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Biggie Munn, Charles Bachman, Duffy Daugherty and Muddy Waters.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984