Earlier today in the DAILY DIRT, I mentioned that Western Michigan’s AD had focused in on a candidate after conducting interviews in New Orleans. Now according to a TWEET by Jon Rothstein, it appears that Michigan State associate head coach Dwayne Stephens is the choice.

Stephens has been on Tom Izzo’s staff for the past 19-seasons, including the last ten as the associate head coach. Before being hired as an assistant at MSU (his alma mater), he spent four seasons as an assistant under Tom Crean at Marquette (1999-2003).

Stephens has coached in 20 straight NCAA Tournaments, including the 2003 Final Four with Marquette and the 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2019 Final Fours with MSU.

He will replace Clayton Bates who was released back on March 7th after two seasons on the job.

More on this when it becomes official.