GAME chnagers
While celebrity sightings are fewer in Southwest Florida than in, say, Magic City, many retired professional athletes and coaches live their best lives among us. Two all-time greats—Mark Dantonio, the winningest football coach in Michigan State University history, and Gary Pinkel, a 2022 inductee in the prestigious College Football Hall of Fame—share thoughts with Naples Illustrated on football, family, and leisurely life in the Sunshine State.
COACHING STOPS:
1980, University of Ohio (graduate assistant)
1981, Purdue University (graduate assistant)
1982, Butler Community College (defensive coordinator)
1983-1984, The Ohio State University (graduate assistant)
1985, University of Akron (defensive backs)
1986-1990, Youngstown State University (defensive backs, defensive coordinator 1990)
1991-1994, University of Kansas (defensive backs)
1995-2000, Michigan State University (defensive backs)
2001-2003, The Ohio State University (defensive coordinator)
2004-2006, University of Cincinnati (head coach)
2007-2019, Michigan State University (head coach)
KEY ACCOLADES:
3 Big Ten Championships;
1 Legends Division Championship
2 Big Ten Coach of the Year honors
2014 Rose Bowl victory
2015 Cotton Bowl victory
2015 College Football Playoff appearance
7 Associated Press Top 25 Finishes at MSU
14 bowl games in 16 years as head coach
Winningest football coach in MSU history
