EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -University of Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio is poised to return to his roots at Michigan State.

Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon recommended Monday that Dantonio be hired as the Spartans' next football coach, replacing the fired John L. Smith. The school's board of trustees was preparing to vote on the recommendation at a special meeting Monday morning.

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.

Smith was fired while completing his fourth season with the Spartans. Smith finished with a 22-26 record, including a 4-8 mark this year.

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 the 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.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.