clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Magic Johnson, Mark Dantonio among the coaches for Michigan State basketball alumni game

Spartans football coach Mark Dantonio will return to his basketball coaching roots by taking up a clipboard opposite Magic Johnson in Michigan State's alumni game Dec. 14.

Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio is reliving his glory days.

As he told MLive recently, he started as an English teacher after graduating college, and served as the school's JV basketball coach along with coaching duties with the football team.

He'll tap back into those roots by joining Jud Heathcote on the sideline, coaching one team in the Michigan State alumni game Dec. 14 at Jenison Field House.

Heathcote won 339 games as the head coach of the Spartans from 1976 to 1995, including the team's national championship season in 1978-79.

The most prominent member of that team, Magic Johnson, will be on the opposite side of the Dantonio/Heathcote squad, coaching with Gus Ganakas, the Spartans head coach from 1969-76.

According to MLive, players in the game will include Steve Smith, Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, David Thomas, Mat Ishbia, Steve Cherry, Jason Andreas, Adam Wolfe, Ron Charles, Terry Donnelly, Gerald Gilkie, Kevin Willis, Mike Peplowski, Anthony "Pig" Miller, Matt Steigenga, Tim Bograkos Sr., Tim Bograkos Jr., Kelvin Torbert, Travis Walton, Austin Thornton, Antonio Smith and DuJuan Wiley.