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Down to the bayou? Reports: Michigan St.'s Saban accepts LSU coaching job
Posted: Tuesday November 30, 1999 01:13 AM
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan State football coach Nick Saban will replace fired Gerry DiNardo at LSU, according to several reports. The New Orleans Times reported in its Tuesday editions that Saban accepted a five-year, $6.25 million contract late Monday night that would make him the third highest-paid coach in college football. Incentives, including bowl bids and high graduation rates, could boost the deal from $1.25 million to $1.5 million a year, The newspaper reported. It said LSU would introduce Saban as its new head coach at a news conference later Tuesday, although nothing had been announced late Monday night. Saban was not at his office Monday evening and could not be reached for comment. Spartans offensive coordinator Morris Watts, who had been an LSU assistant before moving to Michigan State this year, and several Spartans players said Saban planned to talk with his family Monday night to try to make a decision. WILX-TV in Lansing reported that Saban's wife, Terry, was in Baton Rouge, La., Monday to see what she thought of the location. LSU provided a private plane to return her to Lansing. Saban met with Michigan State players late Monday afternoon in a prescheduled meeting to discuss their upcoming Florida Citrus Bowl appearance and told them they might be hearing media reports that he was considering another job. He didn't specify the school, two players said. "All he said was that he had been contacted by another school," tight end Ivory McCoy said. Defensive back DeMario Suggs said he supports whatever decision Saban makes. "I'd be sorry to see him go, but it's his decision," Suggs said. "Whatever is best for him and his family." Linebacker Julian Peterson told the Detroit Free Press that Saban told the team he would know his decision by 7 a.m. Tuesday. "I don't think Coach Saban's leaving," offensive guard Shaun Nason told WILX. At Michigan State, he has a base salary of $203,530 and makes $493,000 from other sources, including his TV show, for a total of $697,330, The Detroit News reported Sunday. DiNardo was reportedly making close to $600,000, including broadcast contracts and endorsements. John Lewandowski, Michigan State sports information director, said LSU officials contacted Michigan State on Monday morning to say they wanted to speak with Saban about a job. Lewandowski said he expected to make a decision quickly. "I just know this is something that coach would like to resolve quickly. We've got a bowl game to prepare for," Lewandowski said. Saban has not been out of the state and any negotiations have been conducted by telephone, Lewandowski said. LSU officials have said they want a new coach in place by Dec. 10 to replace DiNardo, who was fired two weeks ago after going 2-8 this season, and 4-7 in 1998 -- the year LSU was expected to contend for an SEC championship after three winning seasons under DiNardo. LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert met with LSU players Monday and told them a new coach would be named "within 24-36 hours," WAFB reported. Saban guided No. 10 Michigan State to a 9-2 record this season, a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a berth in the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Spartans' first Jan. 1 bowl game since appearing in the Gator Bowl in 1989. Including a year at Toledo, Saban has a 43-26-1 record as a college coach and a 34-24-1 record at Michigan State. He also was a defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns for four seasons and the secondary coach for the Houston Oilers for two seasons. Saban's name has come up repeatedly as a possible candidate for NFL coaching jobs, including two years ago for the Cleveland Browns' coaching job, and before that his name was linked to jobs with the Minnesota Vikings, the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants. Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said he supports whatever decision Saban makes.
"If it's his decision to leave and it's best for him, I'm happy for him," Izzo told WILX.
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