EAST LANSING, Mich. - Mark Dantonio is leaving the University of Cincinnati to become the new coach at Michigan State, which fired John L. Smith while struggling to a 4-8 record this season.

Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio is shown on the sidelines during their college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, in Cincinnati. University of Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio is poised to return to his roots at Michigan State. Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon recommended Monday Nov. 27, 2006 that Dantonio be hired as the Spartans' next football coach, replacing the fired John L. Smith. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

The Michigan State Board of Trustees, in a special meeting Monday morning, unanimously approved a recommendation to hire Dantonio. The five-year contract guarantees Dantonio about $1.1 million a year. It also has a $200,000 signing bonus and incentives that could boost his income.

The school scheduled a noon news conference to introduce Dantonio.

"Leaving UC is a hard decision for our family," Dantonio said in a statement posted on the University of Cincinnati athletics Web site. "The last three seasons have been incredible for us as our staff has been able to get Cincinnati football back on track. ... Michigan State is a special place for me."

Michigan State first interviewed Dantonio on Saturday night, followed up by a second interview with university president Lou Anna Simon on Sunday morning.

"Everyone agreed, head and shoulders, this was the right person for the job," athletic director Ron Mason said.

The 50-year-old Dantonio is a former Michigan State assistant who has been head coach at Cincinnati for the past three seasons. He has an 18-17 record, including a 7-5 mark this season with a win over previously unbeaten Rutgers. The Big East school is awaiting a bowl bid, its second under Dantonio.

Dantonio replaces Smith, who was fired while completing his fourth season with the Spartans. Smith finished with a 22-26 record. Dantonio will be the school's ninth coach since the Duffy Daugherty era ended in 1972. The Spartans have played in only one Rose Bowl since 1966.

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles assistant Pat Shurmur and Miami Dolphins assistant Charlie Baggett also were candidates for the opening.

Dantonio's head coaching experience worked in his favor, along with his ties to the school.

He was an assistant at Michigan State from 1995 through 2000 under Nick Saban and Bobby Williams. Dantonio left for Ohio State, where he was defensive coordinator for three seasons. He also was an assistant at Kansas, Akron, Ohio and Youngstown State.

The Bearcats hired Dantonio in December 2003, and he went on to become the first coach in school history to have a winning record in his first season, with seven wins, including a victory over Marshall in the Fort Worth Bowl.

After taking a step back with a 4-7 record in 2005 with a young team, Dantonio led Cincinnati to another solid season this year.

Dantonio might be able to help Michigan State recruit in the talent-rich state of Ohio.

The Zanesville, Ohio, native got his first big break at Ohio State, where Earle Bruce hired him in 1983. He also was a defensive coordinator at Youngstown State under Jim Tressel, who later brought Dantonio with him from the Division I-AA school to Ohio State.