Dantonio led the Spartans to an eleven-win record last year, and a Big Ten title, the first time for the team in 20 years! He increases his payroll from $618,000 to $650,000 and a $100,000 bonus if he wins the Big Ten championship.
He $2 million bonus will be in 2014 instead of 2016. He'll also be in the Spartans' athletic department for two years if he retires from coaching. If a buyout is involved with the contract, the buyout worth would be $3.5 million.
"This agreement doesn't mark a significant increase in compensation; rather it provides security and comfort for the Dantonio family," athletic director Mark Hollis said.. "It also provides East Lansing and Michigan State University with people of great character and integrity. (Men's basketball coach) Tom Izzo coined the phrase, 'A Spartan for Life.' The membership and commitment to that special club has just increased by one, coach Mark Dantonio and his family."
Dantonio is 37-20 with the Spartans and has lead the team to bowl appearances in every season of his four years with the squad.
"The university has certainly made a commitment to provide all of the necessary tools to continue to build and sustain a championship-caliber program, and I've made a long-term commitment to be the head coach at Michigan State," Dantonio said. "This new contract expresses the loyalty that I have to our current student-athletes and their families and sends a clear message to current and future recruits that I will be their head coach at Michigan State. It also lets Spartan Nation know that I deeply appreciate their loyal support and that I'm here for the long haul."
