MSU extends Curtis Blackwell’s contract by 1 month

East Lansing — Michigan State football staff member Curtis Blackwell has had his contact extended by one month, a university spokesman confirmed on Thursday.

Blackwell, who heads Michigan State’s recruiting, has been suspended with pay since it was announced on Feb. 9 the MSU Police were investigating an alleged sexual assault that involved three players on the football team.

The extension was reported by ESPN.com and the university spokesman confirmed the report to The News.

The report said Blackwell’s contract was to expire at the end of this week, but when a university employee’s contract expires in the middle of a suspension, extending it is one of several options, the spokesman said.

On Tuesday, football coach Mark Dantonio met with the media but would not answer questions about Blackwell.

“I can’t comment on an investigative matter,” Dantonio said. “I’m not gonna get into any specifics about any individual.”

With Michigan State set to play its spring game on Saturday, the Ingham County Prosecutor’s office has still not announced whether it will charge any of the players, who have not been identified.

On Feb. 16, the MSU police requested four arrest warrants in the case. Three were for sexual crimes while a fourth was for a non-sexual crime. The prosecutor’s office then asked for more investigation from the MSU police and on March 14 announced it had received the requested information.

“The evidentiary materials and reports are being reviewed by Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon and assistant prosecutors assigned to this investigation,” a statement from the prosecutor’s office said then. “The Prosecutor’s Office will provide notice upon further developments in their review.”

matt.charboneau@detroitnews.com

twitter.com/mattcharboneau