Is Pat Fitzgerald the Right Hire for Michigan State?

Pat Fitzgerald will be the next Head Football Coach at Michigan State University. Following this announcement by the Detroit Free Press and ON3 Sports on Sunday afternoon, countless Spartan fans have shared a wide variety of opinions on the hire. From cautious approval to displeasure and even disgust, there seems to be a diverse crowd and lack of consensus from the fans. The bottom line? Whether or not Athletic Director J Batt made the correct decision in firing Jonathan Smith after 2 seasons to bring in Coach Fitz.

In this article, we will present the arguments FOR and AGAINST the new leader of the Spartans. Lucas will be focused on the positives that come with Coach Fitz, while Steve will cover the question marks and areas of concerns. Let’s dive right in

The Case FOR Pat Fitzgerald– Lucas

By the Numbers

Pat Fitzgerald served as Northwestern Wildcats Head Coach from 2006-2023. In his time at Northwestern, Coach Fitz brought the program to ten bowl games, three ten-win seasons, two Big Ten Championship game appearances, and consistent national relevancy for arguably the first time in NU history. While his record of 110-101 as leader of the Wildcats does not jump off the page for Spartan fans, we must consider Northwestern’s football history.

573–713–44. That is NU’s all time record since the beginning of their football program in 1876. Simple division tells you that Pat Fitzgerald accounted for 19% of the Wildcats all-time wins, in only 16 seasons (11%) of the program’s 149 year history. NU has been an afterthought in the Big Ten since it joined the conference, and even having a winning record at Northwestern is no small feat. Coach Fitz was able to accomplish it nine times as Head Coach (and once as a player, during the 1995 Rose Bowl season).

Fitz is not only the winningest coach in school history, but the best coach in Northwestern history. His teams were consistently ranked inside the top 25. He brought College GameDay to Evanston for the first time in program history (the only previous time Northwestern was featured was a game at Wrigley in ‘95, which Pat was the captain and middle linebacker for). Fitz went 5-1 in his last six bowl game appearances, including wins over SEC programs in Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Auburn. His Wildcat teams represented the Big Ten West better than any other team from that division (save maybe 2015 Iowa), leading Ohio State at halftime of the 2020 Title game. And finally, Coach Fitz sent 16 players to the NFL draft in his time at Northwestern, more than half of the 25 players drafted from NU in the program’s history.

Outgrowing Northwestern: A Better Fit

Pat Fitzgerald pushed his role as Head Coach for the Northwestern Wildcats to the absolute limit of the job. With recruiting constraints only rivaled by that of Ivy League institutions, Fitz turned a traditional doormat into a competitive force that battled with traditional powerhouses from across the country for the better part of a decade. For the first time in program history, Northwestern Football had an identity, and it all came from their leader, Coach Fitz.

Yes, in his last few years at the helm of the Wildcats his momentum began to slow. The high-academic institution that Northwestern is, was unfortunately not prepared nor willing to adjust quickly enough to the modern world of College Football. The absence of a willingness to spend or bend recruiting limits was reflected in the final records of the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

With lessons learned from the highs and lows experienced by Fitz in Evanston, the opportunity to coach at Michigan State is the perfect fit for Pat. Why? MSU is a program desperate for change, and with all the necessary factors in place to build a winner. Fitzgerald is in need of a home with greater resources and less restrictions that can give him a higher ceiling than possible at Northwestern. State needs someone who can restore identity, reignite the fanbase and donor support. Fitz needs a school with the potential that comes with being a top-25 (or higher) revenue school with 550,000 living alumni, and a fiery young Athletic Director who will fundraise, fundraise, and fundraise. Sounds like a good fit to me.

The Hiatus

Impossible to ignore, Pat Fitzgerald has been out of the college coaching game since 2023. In reviewing this hiring, it would be ignorant to forget the question marks that come with his departure from Northwestern, and the ensuing two years off. Fitzgerald was fired in 2023 in the wake of a widespread hazing scandal, and has spent the last two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Loyola Academy High School in Illinois (more on that later).

I cannot answer, or even think of every single concern that this scandal and sabbatical bring along with it. But just three weeks ago, Rece Davis did a remarkable job asking Coach Fitz the hard hitting questions in his first media appearance since the firing. Even if you are squarely against the hire for MSU, I cannot recommend watching the attached video interview below enough. (Pat’s interview starts at around the 14:20 mark).

Rece inquires about the concerns that many Spartan fans now have. And each and every time, Fitzgerald has a reasonable, consistent answer. Even the upbeat, fiery attitude of Coach Fitz marks a drastic change from the melancholy that was the Jonathan Smith era. Let’s fly through some of the key questions and answers.

The Scandal

As I’m sure Steve will bring up later in the cons section, Pat Fitzgerald was a name brought up many a time involved with the Northwestern hazing scandal. However, he was found completely uninvolved with the allegations, and states that he feels completely vindicated. In the interview, Fitz states his plan and course of action he will take in the future to prevent incidents like this from happening.

Additionally, one of the key questions asked by MSU fans since the hiring is how will Fitzgerald be able to recruit now that he will forever be marked by the dark stain that is this scandal. While that is a valid concern, fans forget that during the investigation, 86 of players signed a petition saying Northwestern unfairly terminated Fitzgerald, and players openly wore shirts during pregames and practices in support of Fitz, knowing he had nothing to do with these allegations. This season, when Pat returned to a Wildcat game for the reunion of the 1995 Rose Bowl team, the parents section of the bleachers broke out into chants of “Fitz, Fitz, Fitz”.

While Coach Fitzgerald has been legally cleared, it will take some time for the impact and fallout of this scandal to completely fade away. With that being said, he is a coach that players love, and was unfairly asked to leave his alma mater. Nearly every player that has played for or against Coach Fitz has positive things to say, and has backed him during this investigation. Even former Spartan Andrew Dowell was complimentary!

Adjusting to Modern College Football

Coach Fitzgerald has spent the last two years not only coaching High School State Championship teams, but also serving on a variety of College Football coaches committees, where he has been able to see the changes with NIL, the transfer portal, revenue sharing, and more play out from afar. By “Getting a phD” in today’s CFB, Fitz is turning one of the biggest criticisms against him, his lack of experience in the new era, into a strength. By seeing these changes take place from a non-partisan, 35,000 feet view, and learning from the experiences of other coaches, Pat brings a unique angle on the entire situation, and seems to be well informed and prepared with a plan.

Speaking of a plan, arguably the most important part of coaching in today’s world for Coach Fitzgerald is structuring your program. As he discusses in the interview, having a GM, AD, and entire coaching staff on the same page is pivotal. As J Batt’s hand selected Coach, Fitz will be ready to work alongside the entire front office and be on the same page in terms of fundraising, recruiting, logistics, and all other goals.

A Personal Note

Why am I so complimentary of the Pat Fitzgerald hire? As many of you may know, I am currently a college football quarterback. However, you may not know that I played my high school ball at Loyola Academy, where I spent time playing for Pat Fitzgerald, and winning the 2023, 24, and 25 State Championships. From my own personal experience, I can say that from the moment the scandal broke, Coach Fitz took no time in getting to work with our squad. He brought an incredible amount of energy and excitement every single day to practice, worked with players from the bottom of the depth chart to the top, making scout team players feel like they not only belonged but reminding them how crucial their role is, and developing our best high school talents into college level players. The difference in our team’s identity and attitude was evident, even with Coach Fitz only serving in the role of a volunteer assistant. He is one of, if not the most transformational and inspirational leaders I have ever played for, a man who handled the scandal and sabbatical with as much class as possible, and had a positive impact on every single young man he coached.

The bottom line is this. While every Spartan fan is entitled to their own opinion on the hiring, ask any player who was recruited by, coached by, or even came into contact with Coach Fitzgerald, and they will tell you he is perfect for the Michigan State job. A hard-nosed 90s linebacker from the Midwest. A man of resiliency and integrity that will shine through in time. A captivating personality who will bring pride and an identity back to being a Michigan State Football fan. A former Big Ten Coach of the year, now with the biggest chip on his shoulder possible. I am pumped to see what Coach Fitz can do.

The Case AGAINST Pat Fitzgerald– Steve

The Record of Mediocrity

Pat Fitzgerald is obviously known for making things happen with very little. The academic restraints alone at Northwestern are nearly insurmountable. Fitzgerald had 17 seasons at Northwestern with a 110-101 record. He basically was a .500 coach. Meaning just enough wins to qualify for 10 bowl appearances. If MSU is just looking to make a bowl the slight majority of the time, then perhaps you found your guy. I for one would want more. Only 10 bowl appearances also means there were 7 losing seasons. The mediocrity continued in bowl games as he only went 5-5. We all know how much we have enjoyed these losing seasons as of late and I for one demand more from this program.

The Scandal

Fitzgerald was fired in 2023 for a very public hazing scandal. The allegations were made by a player in November 2022 that hazing, including assaults by varsity players, occurred while Fitzgerald was aware and made hand gestures that indicated that freshman players should be physically and sexually assaulted for poor performance. The sexual assaults included acts such as being dry-humped by groups of upperclassmen, being forced to enter team showers through parallel lines of spinning naked teammates to resemble a carwash, and being compelled to perform a center-to-quarterback snapping of a football while naked. In August, Fitzgerald and Northwestern reached a settlement. Northwestern released a statement that noted “inappropriate conduct in the football program did occur.” It added: “The evidence uncovered during extensive discovery did not establish that any player reported hazing to Coach Fitzgerald or that Coach Fitzgerald condoned or directed any hazing.” Fitzgerald has stated he feels “100% vindicated”. In the wake of MSU’s own recent scandals, this seems like something you would want to stay away from. I will openly admit I have not done a deep dive into the accusers but it was confirmed that something occurred. It begs the question of if he did not know something, how and why didn’t he? The current state of MSU requires someone of character and someone that can find character athletes. Who brought the offenders into Northwestern? 

The Landscape Change

College football has drastically changed since the summer of 2023. Fitzgerald has not experienced NIL and its extreme relevance as it is currently. He claims he has been studying and preparing and is ready for it but there are definitely questions. What is MSU’s budget and has he been prepared for it? The current roster needs a fairly top to bottom reboot and quick results will obviously take place in college free agency. Can he prove his studying has paid off?Time Away

Another con for Fitzgerald has to be his time away. These days when coaches leave and go elsewhere there is staff and players that usually come along for the transition. Oftentimes that makes things a bit easier. Obviously this was not a great case for Smith as a lot of it didn’t work out. Jack Velling proved to be talented but there were many holes. Fitzgerald has to deal with the early signing aspect that begins on December 3. This is going to be tough to navigate with no staff or in the trenches evaluation of the current stock. Being that this hire was so quick it seems that perhaps Fitzgerald has already been doing some work via tape but he hasn’t had the chance to meet the people in person, to judge the character. His ability to find an OC and DC is going to be a key to success. His time away may make that more difficult. I’ve heard the numerous voices pining for Notre Dame’s Max Bullough as the next DC. Can that be pulled off? It will be interesting to see if he has clout and respect still or if it has taken a hit and the time away has made him a thought of the past. 

The Other

I know my fellow TOC writers deem me the pessimist or Debbie Downer but I deem myself as more of a realist. The concerns are legit and I think most of us have similar ones. I also know that with the jobs available and MSU’s recent track record getting anyone here is going to be tough. So, maybe a guy with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove finds the right spot at a university that has a mutual feeling. My last con you ask? Fitzgerald takes so much longer to type than Smith. In about 15 years the cycle will repeat and another John Smith will return to E.L.

So TOC, whose side are you on? Are you more or less willing to give Coach Fitzgerald a chance? Let us know in the comments below. Here’s to a brighter new chapter for MSU Football!