It seems as though Mel Tucker will soon be out of a job. The Michigan State head coach is currently on suspension while the university does an investigation into off-the-field allegations involving Tucker.
If the rumors become a reality and Tucker is eventually let go, the Spartans will need to find a replacement. At the moment, Harlan Barnett is steering the ship for Michigan State, but it seems unlikely that he'll retain the job permanently.
While names like P.J. Fleck (Minnesota) and Sean Lewis (Colorado) will certainly be among those considered to take over in East Lansing, let's look as some outside-the-box hires Michigan State should consider to replace Mel Tucker.
Outside-the-box Mel Tucker replacements for Michigan State: 3. LSU DC Matt House
Matt House is not a household name, no pun intended. But folks up in East Lansing likely have heard of the LSU defensive coordinator before. House is from Michigan and played football for the Spartans before becoming a graduate assistant in 2001.
House then bounced all over the college football landscape finding jobs at North Carolina, Gardener-Webb, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Florida International University. House also made stops in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams.
But Matt House really made a name for himself in 2016 when he joined Mark Stoops' staff at the University of Kentucky. After a year as the team's special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach, House was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2017.
House then joined the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff from 2019-2021 and wound up in Baton Rouge alonside current head coach Brian Kelly last season. Having such a vast array of expereince in both college and the NFL should no doubt make Matt House a strong candidate to take over at his alma mater.
Outside-the-box Mel Tucker replacements for Michigan State: 2. Ohio State OC Brian Hartline
This could be a two-for-one for Michigan State. Brian Hartline is revered as one of the bright offensive minds in college football. A former NFL wide receiver, the Ohio State offensive coordinator could bring a high-octane attack to East Lansing and weaken one of the Spartans' chief rivals.
Hartline experienced moderate success during his time in the NFL, spending several years with the Miami Dolphins before retiring after the 2015 season. Hartline then joined Ohio State's coaching staff as a graduate assistant and has slowly risen up the ranks of the Buckeye's coaching hierarchy.
Hartline is currently the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at OSU. Hartline has been instrumental in the development of some of the NFL's top talent, including Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Marvin Harrison Jr. will soon join that group, as the son of the Indianapolis Colts Hall of Famer will likely go among the Top 5 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The question is whether or not Brian Hartline would actually leave his alma mater to become the head coach for one of Ohio State's biggest rivals. Hartline is just 36 years and is likely to get a lot of looks later this year once schools begin to search for an upgrade at the head coaching position. MSU should have Hartline on their short list.
Outside-the-box Mel Tucker replacements for Michigan State: 1. Former Florida HC Dan Mullen
Here's a name that not many college football pundits are throwing out, but it's one that Michigan State should certainly be interested in. In fact, being that Dan Mullen being out of work at the moment would allow for Michigan State to bring him onboard right now.
Mullen spend a lot of time in the SEC, but things didn't work out for him at the University of Florida, and the 51-year-old is currently a broadcaster. But we all know that Mullen is a coach at heart, and it would take much to sway him back to the college football sidelines.
Mullen is an Urban Meyer disciple, serving under him at the University of Utah and the University of Florida. Mullen then landed in Starkville as the head coach for the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2009.
Dan Mullen spent nine seasons at Mississippi State and led the Bulldogs to eight consecutive bowl games while going 69-46. Three times, Mullen was able to guide his team to the Top 25 in the final AP Poll.
Mullen rode his success at Mississippi State to the head job at Florida and won over 10 games twice during his four-year tenure. A down year in 2021 (5-6) saw Mullen handed the pink slip, but he still holds win-loss record of 103-61 as a head coach, plus a winning record (55-54) in the SEC.
It's surprising that Dan Mullen is still unemployed at this time, but a midseason opening at Michigan State could be his opportunity to become a head coach once again.