Published Friday, January 06, 2012 12:03 AM
Courtesy of aggiesports.com
By ROBERT CESSNA
Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi interviewed with Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin on Thursday, according to spartanation.com.
Narduzzi has been at Michigan State five seasons. The Spartans went 11-3 this season, beating Georgia in the Outback Bowl. The Spartans allowed 272.7 yards per game to rank fifth nationally behind Southeastern Conference schools Alabama, LSU, Georgia and South Carolina. Michigan State ranked 12th in run defense (104.3 ypg) and 11th in pass defense (168.4 ypg). The Spartans tied for 54th in turnovers, forcing only 22 from their 4-3 alignment, but they tied for eighth in sacks, averaging 3.1 per game.
Narduzzi is making $240,000 a year but could make at least $600,000 at A&M and possibly $750,000, according to the website that's devoted to Michigan State athletics.
Narduzzi and his wife arrived at A&M on Wednesday night and toured the campus and community Thursday.
Narduzzi played linebacker one season at Youngstown State (1985) before finishing at Rhode Island (1987-89). He coached at Miami (Ohio), Rhode Island, Northern Illinois and Cincinnati before being hired at MSU.
Narduzzi interviewed for the head coaching position at Illinois last month. The Illini eventually hired Toledo head coach Tim Beckman.
Sumlin's staff is expected to include Stanford special teams coordinator and recruiting Brian Polian according to several reports. Polian was in College Station on Wednesday.
Other Sumlin assistants according to previous reports include Houston running backs coach Clarence McKinney, UH co-offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, UH offensive line coach B.J. Anderson, former Kansas co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach David Beaty and current A&M defensive line coach Terrell Williams.
Sumlin said last week before A&M played in the Meineke Car Care Bowl that he was hopeful to have his staff named by the end of this week and before the American Football Coaches Association's convention in San Antonio set for Sunday through Wednesday.
The only major piece that Sumlin appears to be missing to his staff is replacing defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who was hired as Fresno State's head coach.
Mississippi State defensive coordinator Chris Wilson is staying with the Bulldogs and won't be joining Sumlin's staff, reported footballscoop.com. The site also reported that A&M running backs coach Randy Jordan interviewed at North Carolina.
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