3 Offensive Coordinator Candidates for Michigan State's Head Coach Position
It is only September, but the coaching carousel has already begun. Michigan State has officially fired head coach Mel Tucker, and Spartans’ safeties coach Harlon Barnett will act as the interim head coach for the remainder of MSU’s season.
So, who will replace Tucker in East Lansing?
It’s time to look into some offensive coordinator’s around the country. Two of these candidates would be first-time head coaches, while the other would be making his second stint as a program's top guy. Who could be the next ‘home run’ hire from the coordinator ranks?
We've already looked at our Top 3 Power Five head coach candidates, and our Top 3 Group of Five head coach candidates. Now, let’s look at offensive coordinators that could be potential head coach candidates for the Spartans.
Alex Atkins (Florida State)
Atkins has worked wonders for Florida State’s offense since becoming their offensive coordinator in 2022. Where he has really helped the Seminoles is his work as the offensive line coach, making them one of the best rushing attacks in the country. With FSU’s success, he has won big battles on the recruiting trail for blue-chip recruits.
Atkins is a Chicago native who has quickly worked his way up the ranks as one of the top coordinators in the country. Prior to Florida State, he was the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at Charlotte in 2019 and Tulane from 2016-2018. Florida State has really taken pride in running the ball under Atkins and winning the battle with opponents up front.
In 2022, Florida State had a school-record seven straight games of 200-plus rushing yards on offense. While the run game has thrived in Talahassee, Florida State’s offense remains balanced. FSU quarterback Jordan Travis threw for over 3,200 yards in 2022.
If Michigan State were to hire someone with no previous head coaching experience, my choice would be Atkins. The Spartans may not choose that route, but Atkins will surely get multiple interviews and job offers in the offseason.
Sean Lewis (Colorado)
Those who follow college football closely already knew of Sean Lewis before this season. But, most of you are just hearing about him recently as Colorado’s new offensive coordinator. The Buffaloes have already exceeded expectations in Year 1 under Deion Sanders, and much of that can be credited to their creativity on offense, led by Lewis.
Prior to being hired as OC at Colorado, Lewis was the head coach at Kent State for five seasons. He went 24-31 overall, but had a winning record in the Mid-American Conference play and led Kent State to a MAC East division title in 2021.
While those numbers look mediocre, let’s put it in perspective. In Kent State’s history, the program has only been to five bowl games, with Lewis taking them twice. Lewis also led the Golden Flashes to their first-ever bowl win, and the division title in 2021 was their second-ever in program history. With that context, one can surtain Lewis was successful at Kent State.
In 2020, the Golden Flashes led the country averaging 49.8 points per game, albeit in only four games due to a COVID-shortened schedule. However, Lewis’s offenses finished Top 30 in the country in scoring for multiple years during his tenure at Kent State.
Lewis’ move to be Sander’s offensive coordinator at Colorado gave him national recognition, and his prior head coaching experience may give him a leg up over other coordinators interviewing for head coaching jobs during the next cycle. At a tough place to win like Kent State, Lewis proved himself as a quality candidate and is ready to take on a higher-profile program.
Brian Hartline (Ohio State)
Hartline, a former NFL wide receiver, is coaching at his alma mater. Is he ready to leave Ohio State?
Hartline has become a popular name among Spartan fans as a potential candidate in East Lansing. He checks a lot of boxes for head coaching jobs, but specifically what Michigan State is looking for. Hartline was born and raised in Ohio, and has deep roots in the state that is an important recruiting ground for Michigan State. He has been coaching at Ohio State since 2017, and has worked his way up to being offensive coordinator. Since he’s been on staff, the Buckeyes have had eight wide receivers drafted to the NFL, six of which were drafted in the first three rounds.
Producing constant NFL talent has made Hartline one of the best recruiters in the country. The 36-year-old has been the lead recruiter for 22 Ohio State recruits that were Top 100 prospects in the country, according to 247Sports Composite. Recruiting five-star after five-star player, he has shown effectiveness few can match on the recruiting trail.
Would Hartline be interested in taking a head coaching position? Would he want a position where he would be competing with OSU for recruits and coaches constantly?
Michigan State has the resources and money to give any of these three coordinators a head coaching shot in East Lansing. With conference realignment, Michigan State is in a position to compete financially with the rest of the country. But, is there too much turmoil and commotion at MSU right now for one of these guys to opt for a different job? Will a better job than Michigan State open up later in the coaching carousel? Those are the questions that will impact the Spartans’ search.
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