Michigan State finalizes deal to hire ex-Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to replace Jonathan Smith

Michigan State finalizes deal to hire ex-Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to replace Jonathan SmithPat Fitzgerald hasn't coached in college football since 2023, when he was fired from Northwestern amid a hazing scandalStory byPat Fitzgerald hasn't coached in college football since 2023, when he was fired from Northwestern amid a hazing scandal. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (Chicago Tribune via Getty Images)Ryan YoungStaff writerMon, December 1, 2025 at 9:23 PM UTC·2 min read

Michigan State has locked down its replacement for Jonathan Smith.

The Spartans finalized a five-year deal to hire Pat Fitzgerald as their next head coach on Monday afternoon, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. The move came just one day after Michigan State fired Smith, though they were reportedly locked in on Fitzgerald for the job almost immediately.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

The job will mark Fitzgerald’ first since he was fired from Northwestern ahead of the 2023 campaign following a hazing scandal within the program. Fitzgerald spent 17 seasons with the Wildcats, and he had three 10-win seasons there before finishing with a 110-101 record.

Fitzgerald was fired in the summer of 2023, shortly after he was initially put on a two-week suspension after the hazing allegations were first made public. He reached an undisclosed settlement with the university in August after filing a wrongful termination lawsuit, and he said in a statement at the time that it was proven that he did not know about the hazing allegations while he was the head coach.

Northwestern went just 4-10 over Fitzgerald’s final two seasons, and 1-11 in 2022. They’ve since hired David Braun to replace him, and he’s led the Wildcats over the past three seasons.

Fitzgerald will now enter just his second head coaching job in college football and take over for Smith, who struggled during his two seasons with the Spartans. The team went just 4-8 this past season, marking its second losing campaign since Smith took over after a six-year run at Oregon State. Smith finished with just a 9-15 record in East Lansing.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

Though Fitzgerald has been away from the game for a few years, there’s no doubt he knows the Big Ten landscape well and is still a very capable top coach for Michigan State to bring in — especially during an offseason where so many top jobs have been open throughout the major four conferences.

AdvertisementAdvertisement