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MSU assistant football coach visits for Northern Michigan University Wildcats’ vacancy

Mark Staten

Mark Staten12-7-1b-msu-staten-mugMARQUETTE — If you told most Upper Peninsula sports fans that a coach from Michigan State University was in town Tuesday, the first name that would probably come to mind is head men’s basketball coach, native Yooper and Northern Michigan University alumnus Tom Izzo.

It wasn’t Izzo this time, but a coach on the Spartans football team. MSU offensive line coach Mark Staten was in town to make his case ab out why he should get the head coaching gig at NMU.

Staten has coached under Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio for a decade, and before that at Cincinnati. He also was MSU’s recruiting coordinator for six years and during the 2015 season, four of his linemen were named to All-Big Ten teams.

Staten said he grew up in a small town that he felt had similar values to Marquette and the Upper Peninsula. He also said he enjoyed looking at the program and seeing what is currently there, despite Northern struggling to get to .500 for the past few seasons.

“There was a lot of room for improvement when we went to Cincinnati and Michigan State,” Staten said. “Once the ideas that (you have) permeate a team and you’re able to bring that to them, then you’re able to move forward and win games. That’s been the model where I’ve been at before and we’ve had tremendous success.”

As far as the on-field part of the game, Staten is open to changing things up at Northern. Under former head coach Chris Ostrowsky, the Wildcats ran a spread offense that was pass-heavy. Staten on the other hand, thinks a more pro-style offense could be a good fit.

“Offensively and defensively, the philosophy has to fit,” he said. “A normal pro-type model is what could fit here. It’d be very similar to what we’ve done at Michigan State or what North Dakota State has done. That model works.

“It produces championship football on the offensive side. I think you need to study your opponents and attack their weaknesses. It’s very much scheme-oriented, but as far as personnel-wise, I believe in attacking with tight ends when you need to and a great run game. You get the safeties to move up and you go downfield.”

While Northern has put some impressive offensive numbers the past couple of seasons, the defense has not risen to the occasion and was one of the worst in the country last season. Even though he is an offensive coach, Staten said that he can help fix the Wildcats’ defensive woes.

“When I was (playing in) college, I got switched over to the defensive side,” he said. “When I started my college career, I was a defensive lineman at Miami University (Ohio). I got switched over in the pros and played a little on the offensive line in the NFL.

“Then I went to Barcelona (Spain), which was in NFL Europe at the time. I was playing the offensive side, but I was backing up the defensive side for a scheme and then I blew my knee out and that ended my playing the game.”

Northern has been in recruiting battles lately with Michigan Tech over the talented players in the U.P. and when asked what the key is to win those battles, Staten emphasized the importance of having a vision.

“You have to get them to believe in a vision and believe where this program is going,” he said. “Everything is in place for this program to go forward. Not just say that ‘Hey they’re getting to the playoffs,’ but ‘How far are they getting in the playoffs?’ You have to convince young men that ‘Hey it can happen.'”

When asked how to describe himself, passion was the word that he immediately said.

“I’m a very passionate person,” he said. “No one is going to outwork me. You may outsmart me some time, but I’m going to find a way in the dark of night and get it done.

“My players would say I’m intense. I’ve asked them that and they’re honest with me. They would say loving and caring. They joke with each other. They say ‘Your dad was looking for you.’ So I try to put forth that I’m someone you can come to and talk. I’ve answered questions on things that I never thought I’d be answering. So I’d say passionate, intense, caring and dad.”

The interview process continues Thursday with Grand Valley State co-defensive coordinator Nick Postma. University of North Carolina-Pembroke head coach Shane Richardson was scheduled to appear today, but he withdrew his name from consideration.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.

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