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  • Naples Illustrated

    GAME chnagers

    Sep 01, 2022 7 minutes
    BY JANE E. ENOS
    PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL CARONCHI SHOT ON LOCATION AT BARBATELLA, NAPLES

    While celebrity sightings are fewer in Southwest Florida than in, say, Magic City, many retired professional athletes and coaches live their best lives among us. Two all-time greats—Mark Dantonio, the winningest football coach in Michigan State University history, and Gary Pinkel, a 2022 inductee in the prestigious College Football Hall of Fame—share thoughts with Naples Illustrated on football, family, and leisurely life in the Sunshine State.

    COACHING STOPS:

    1980, University of Ohio (graduate assistant)

    1981, Purdue University (graduate assistant)

    1982, Butler Community College (defensive coordinator)

    1983-1984, The Ohio State University (graduate assistant)

    1985, University of Akron (defensive backs)

    1986-1990, Youngstown State University (defensive backs, defensive coordinator 1990)

    1991-1994, University of Kansas (defensive backs)

    1995-2000, Michigan State University (defensive backs)

    2001-2003, The Ohio State University (defensive coordinator)

    2004-2006, University of Cincinnati (head coach)

    2007-2019, Michigan State University (head coach)

    KEY ACCOLADES:

    3 Big Ten Championships;

    1 Legends Division Championship

    2 Big Ten Coach of the Year honors

    2014 Rose Bowl victory

    2015 Cotton Bowl victory

    2015 College Football Playoff appearance

    7 Associated Press Top 25 Finishes at MSU

    14 bowl games in 16 years as head coach

    Winningest football coach in MSU history

    MARK DANTONIO

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