"Today marks the beginning of a new era for Michigan State Football," said athletic director J Batt. "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."

Fitzgerald spent 17 seasons as Northwestern's head coach, accumulating a 110-101 record in overall play and a 65-76 record in Big Ten play with the Wildcats. His tenure with Northwestern came to an abrupt end in July 2023 when he was fired for "his failure to know and prevent significant hazing in the football program," the school announced at the time. Fitzgerald sued Northwestern University for wrongful termination in Oct. 2023, and recently the parties reached a settlement in August 2025.

The 50-year-old coach had many successful seasons at Northwestern. That success peaked in the latter half of his tenure, when Fitzgerald coached two 10-win seasons, earned five bowl-game victories, and received the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year award. Most notably, in 2018 and 2020, he led his Wildcat teams to the Big Ten championship game, where both teams fell to Ohio State. Those two appearances remain the only Big Ten championship game berths in Northwestern history.

"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," said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. "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."

Fitzgerald will now try to bring that same success to the MSU football program — a program that has endured disappointing seasons since the turn of the decade. Over the past four seasons, MSU has gone 18–30 overall and 9–27 in Big Ten play, with no bowl appearances. It’s coming off a 4–8 season, one in which the Spartans lost eight straight games and one that ultimately cost Smith his job.

Fitzgerald has been out of coaching for three seasons. Now he’s back, this time dressed in green and white. Arriving on the banks of the Red Cedar, he will attempt to turn around a program that hasn’t been at its best.

"I am honored to be named the head football coach at Michigan State University," said Fitzgerald. "I’d like to thank President Guskiewicz and Athletics Director Batt for this opportunity. 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. 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."