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Report: Bret Bielema interested in vacancy at Michigan State
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The rumor mill is running at full speed again in East Lansing, following Luke Fickell’s decision to turn down the head coaching job at Michigan State. Another familiar B1G name has surfaced as a potential candidate.
Ex-Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema reportedly has interest in the opening with the Spartans, according to a report from Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press. Bielema has spent the last three seasons in the NFL and was recently named the outside linebackers coach with the New York Giants.
Before receiving that opportunity, Bielema was with the New England Patriots from 2018-19.
Bielema would bring plenty of B1G and head coaching experience to the job at Michigan State. He was the head coach at Wisconsin from 2006-12 and enjoyed plenty of success is seven seasons with the Badgers.
During Bielema’s run in Madison, Wisconsin won three-straight B1G titles from 2010-12. He compiled a record of 68-24 and reached a bowl game every season. The Badgers also finished the season ranked in the Associated Press Poll five times in those seven years.
After Wisconsin’s 2012 B1G title run, Bielema bolted for Arkansas, where he spent the next five years. But he didn’t enjoy nearly the success, finishing with a 29-34 record and just one winning season in SEC play. Bielema was fired immediately after the 2017 season, when the Razorbacks finished 4-8.
In 12 seasons as a head coach, Bielema’s career record is 97-58 with 10 bowl appearances.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB