For now, Narduzzi still coaching at MSU

Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich.

It was Pat Narduzzi’s defense that paved the way for Michigan State to reach the Rose Bowl — and because of that, nobody could be certain if the chatty defensive coordinator would actually end up coaching the game.

But for now, at least, Narduzzi remains with the fourth-ranked Spartans. It seems inevitable that someday he’ll be a head coach, but Narduzzi wasn’t about to leave for the first available opportunity. Not after what he and coach Mark Dantonio have built at Michigan State.

“You hate to break up a great party that we have going on right now, and it better be a great opportunity,” said Narduzzi, an Ursuline High graduate who played one season at Youngstown State under his father, Bill. “It felt like this is the place to stay.”

Narduzzi has been Dantonio’s defensive coordinator for the last 10 seasons — three at Cincinnati and seven at Michigan State. The Spartans have been consistently impressive defensively for the last few years, but their 2013 group stands out, ranking No. 1 in the country in total defense — a distinction that helped Narduzzi win the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant.

“Obviously, Pat Narduzzi is the coordinator and does a tremendous job,” Dantonio said. “I think him staying here sends a message that things are good here. Things are very positive here and he’ll leave for the right position at the right time and not before then, because I think he enjoys the aspect of being here.”

Narduzzi withdrew from consideration for the vacancy at Connecticut earlier this month, so the speculation about him immediately leaving for a head coaching job has subsided somewhat.