Despite posting a 20-18 record over the last three seasons and continued negative press related to player misconduct off the field, Michigan State's Board of Trustees authorized an annual contract extension for Mark Dantonio on Friday, extending his contract through January 2024.
From SB Nation:
Dantonio’s contract with the university says the term of his deal extends by one year, every year, unless the school gives Dantonio written notice by mid-January that it won’t make that extension. If the school decided not to extend Dantonio’s contract by a year, he’d have the option to resign and take an $875,000 payout.
At base, Dantonio’s agreement with the school is for six years. This extension puts him under contract with the Spartans through the 2023 season.
The extension comes on the heels of an ESPN Outside the Lines investigation alleging at least 16 Spartans footballers have been accused of sexual assault or violence against women since Dantonio's arrival in 2007.
That said, Dantonio has steadfastly denied ever mishandling any information or allegations brought to him and in 2017 a commissioned law firm concluded he did act appropriately in dismissing three players who were eventually charged with sexual assault.
In response to the OTL report, Michigan State's interim president called it a "sensationalized package" and Dantonio addressed the media offering, "every incident reported in that article was documented by either police or the Michigan State Title IX office. I have always worked with the proper authorities when dealing with cases of sexual assault.”
After a 7-6 season in 2018, Dantonio's squad faces a tough 2019 slate with road contests versus Northwestern, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan. Off the field, Dantonio, among others in power at the university, still have a lot of questions to answer.
