Mel Tucker has received notice that Michigan State intends to fire the head coach for cause. While Tucker has 7 days to dispute that ruling, the Spartans will indeed be looking for a head coach to take the reins for 2024 and beyond.

With Michigan State getting a jump start on the head coach carousel, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg listed 6 coaches as “favorites” to replace Tucker in East Lansing. That list includes one MSU alum, an ACC coach with ties to the midwest, a Pac-12 coach on the rise, and a pair of Big 12 head coaches.

As a part of his report, Rittenberg cited a source who noted the next head coach in East Lansing of course needs to fit the bill as a good coach. However, it’s equally important to find someone “as clean as possible” in terms of off-the-field reputation.

“He’s got to be a good football coach, but off the field, he’s got to be as clean as possible,” an industry source said. “The background check has to come back completely spotless. Nothing at all.”

Here are those favorites:

  • Pat Shurmur, Colorado offensive analyst
  • Mike Elko, Duke head coach
  • Jason Candle, Toledo head coach
  • Jonathan Smith, Oregon State head coach
  • Lance Leipold, Kansas head coach
  • Chris Klieman, Kansas State head coach

From that group, Leipold has been a hot name on the coaching carousel when big programs become available. He was particularly connected in reports to Nebraska and Wisconsin last season before opting to stay at Kansas.

Shurmur was a 4-year letterman for the Spartans during the 1980s and returned to the program as a graduate assistant in 1988. He then served in various roles on the staffs of George Perles and Nick Saban from 1990-97. Shurmur has experience as a head coach but that came in the NFL during stops with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.