Michigan State football makes Pat Fitzgerald hire official

Pat Fitzgerald was officially named the Michigan State football coach on Monday, Dec. 1.

The former Northwestern coach becomes the 27th coach in program history and fourth since Mark Dantonio’s sudden retirement in early 2020. Fitzgerald, who turns 51 on Tuesday, takes over for Jonathan Smith, who was fired Sunday after going 4-8 this season and 9-15 over a two-year tenure.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for Michigan State Football,” first-year MSU athletic director J Batt wrote in a statement. “Pat Fitzgerald is widely recognized as an exceptional football coach, whose teams play with extreme toughness and grit, demonstrate continual improvement and maximize potential. Pat is an excellent fit for Michigan State Football, as he understands the Big Ten, has great relationships throughout the Midwest and embodies the values on which our program was built. His incredible passion will resonate throughout the program, connecting with all members of our Spartan community, including student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and donors.

SHAWN WINDSOR: Pat Fitzgerald has baggage, but he could be perfect for Michigan State

“As an institution, we are committed to providing the resources and infrastructure required to realize our shared vision of competing for championships, and with Pat leading the way, Spartan Football is positioned for sustained success at the Big Ten and national level. We are excited to welcome Pat, his wife, Stacy, and sons, Jack, Ryan and Brendan, to our Spartan family.”

Contract terms were not immediately released, although the deal is reportedly for five years, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Fitzgerald’s hiring requires formal approval from MSU’s Board of Trustees, which next meets Dec. 12. Michigan State also announced Monday that Fitzgerald will be introduced as head coach on Tuesday afternoon.

“This is a program with a deep and storied tradition, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence that extends far beyond the football field,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “What excited me most about this opportunity was the vision for what Michigan State can be for years to come. We will restore tradition, and I’m eager to earn the trust of our players, alumni, and fans while competing at the highest level.”

THANKS? Connor Stalions: MSU made best hire of cycle with Pat Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald, a College Football Hall of Famer as a linebacker at Northwestern (1993-96) went 110-101 over 17 seasons coaching at his alma mater from 2006-22 before he was fired in July 2023 due to a hazing scandal the school said “included forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature.” Fitzgerald, who reportedly was owed $68 million from the private school on his contract that ran through 2031, settled a wrongful termination lawsuit with Northwestern on Aug. 21 this year for an undisclosed amount.  Fitzgerald denied knowledge of the hazing, and the school issued a statement to USA TODAY saying evidence uncovered did not establish any player reported hazing to Fitzgerald or he condoned any actions and he was “incredibly upset and saddened” when he learned of the alleged details.

“Pat Fitzgerald is a proven leader who understands the full mission of intercollegiate athletics—competitive excellence, academic achievement, and the holistic development of student-athletes,” MSU president Kevin M. Guskiewicz wrote in a statement. “His track record of building disciplined, resilient teams and his commitment to coaching with integrity make him an exceptional fit for Michigan State University. I’m confident that under his leadership, Spartan Football will thrive on and off the field.”

MSU has only hired one coach in its history with previous experience as a Big Ten head coach – before the school was in the Big Ten and when it was still known as Michigan State College.

Charlie Bachman, who played at Notre Dame for Knute Rockne, began his coaching career at Northwestern in 1919 before moving to Kansas State and Florida. Michigan State hired him in 1933, and he was the Spartans' coach for 13 seasons until 1946 (with a one-year sabbatical in 1943 at Camp Grant coaching Army soldiers). Bachman was 70-34-10 with the Spartans and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Fitzgerald, who has been out of college coaching for three seasons, was 5-9 against the Spartans during his tenure at Northwestern. The Wildcats were 4-20 in his final two seasons, which included MSU’s season-opening win under Mel Tucker in 2021 in Evanston, Illinois.

Tucker replaced Dantonio in February 2020 but was fired for off-field issues during the 2023 season, with Harlon Barnett taking over on an interim basis for the final 10 games that year. Smith was hired after the final game of the 2023 season. MSU was forced to vacate its wins from 2022-24 due to infractions that occurred during Tucker’s tenure and received three years of probation from the NCAA in early November.

Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari. 

Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pat Fitzgerald hire official for Michigan State football