"Michigan State has historically competed for Big 10 championships," Fitzgerald said. "My family and I feel grateful for the opportunity to make sure we get back to that place. We're going to build this for long-term success, and we need everyone to buy in, players and coaches, faculty, alumni and former players."

Athletics Director J. Batt opened with remarks on Fitzgerald as the new leader of MSU football. Before introducing him, Batt thanked former coach Jonathan Smith for his "first-class manner" in representing the university. Batt said Fitzgerald was the perfect fit for MSU, checking every box that makes a strong head coach.

From Orland Park, Illinois, Fitzgerald faces a fan base that has sold out Spartan Stadium on game day just once in the past two years. 

MSU students have not seen a win against Michigan nor a bowl game since 2021. As opponents took early leads against MSU this season, students left Spartan Stadium in droves, often not long after halftime. The Spartans have not won a game a conference game at home since a 24-17 win against Purdue a year ago.

"Today marks the start of a new era of Michigan State football. Spartan football has a proud history of national championships, Big Ten championships, Rose Bowl, CFP appearances, and much of that success is recent. More importantly, Spartan football is defined by its people, the student athletes and coaches that built this program in the loyal, passionate fan base that builds Spartan Stadium each and every week."

Now, Fitzgerald said, speaking to MSU students, "number one, we need to win."

"[Spartan Stadium] is a hostile, passionate environment, and we have to provide a team on the field that has the students saying ‘on Saturday, let's go have a great party in Spartan Stadium,'" Fitzgerald said. "That 12th person is going to be the student body, obviously, our other fans too, but especially the student body. You're the core of the fanbase. You're the whole, you're the heartbeat, and we're going to need you."

MSU announced a new $1 billion fundraising campaign, FOR SPARTA, on Tuesday morning, aiming to renovate Spartan Stadium, the Breslin Center, Munn Ice Arena and more. With the rise of NIL and the transfer portal in college football, Fitzgerald said the resources committed by Athletics Director J. Batt and President Kevin Guskiewicz were a major factor in his decision to come to East Lansing.

According to a term sheet obtained by The State News, Fitzgerald will earn $5 million in his first season at MSU, with his compensation increasing each year through 2030. The deal includes a $4 million base salary and rising supplemental pay that reaches $3 million by the final year of the contract.

"What jumps out so much is the pride and the people and the commitment and the resources to compete at the highest level," Fitzgerald said.

Smith was fired without cause on Sunday afternoon and Fitzgerald was hired just over 24 hours later. Batt declined to comment on when MSU started to pursue Fitzgerald, nor when Fitzgerald accepted his offer. 

"Decisions to make a coaching change are certainly done in full alignment with the President and the Board of Trustees," Batt said. "I would say that we have the opportunity to visit with the Board of Trustees and then go along and move forward with that change."

Fitzgerald, with nearly 20 years of Big Ten experience, said there was no need to explain his motivation to build a winning program.

The early signing period for the 2026 recruiting class opens on Dec. 3, two days after the hiring of Fitzgerald. Since he got the call from Batt telling him he’d be the new head coach, Fitzgerald said he has been calling recruits until 11:30 p.m. to make sure they come to MSU. 

As for resources and money needed to compete in modern college football, Fitzgerald has full confidence in the university and its top down "alignment"

"From a resource standpoint, we talk and discuss at length, commitments and resources being at a championship level," Fitzgerald said. "Specifically, as we move forward, I think we'll be able to see those. I felt complete trust and confidence that those resources were going to be provided."