Liam MacKenzie
The transactions continue in the college football world where coaches find new homes whether it be for a better opportunity, or having to fill a vacant role which is the case for Pat Fitzgerald as he will become the next Head Coach of the Michigan State Spartans football program. The move comes after recently fired Head Coach Jonathan Smith got the word he would no longer hold the position after posting a 9-15 overall record along with a record of 4-14 in games against opponents in the Big Ten. For Coach Fitzgerald, he has quite the work to do to try and put Michigan State back in a position where they can compete in the Big Ten, gain more wins whether it be in or out of conference and find a way to make a bowl appearance.
Pat Fitzgerald is a coach that has had success at the Big Ten level where he has a solid track record in terms of wins in which he was the winningest Head Coach for the Northwestern Wildcats as he has 110 wins under his belt. He was able to guide the program to 10 bowl game appearances which is something that he hopefully will be able to have the Spartans get to come next fall. Fitzgerald was also able to bring his team to five Top 25 finishes during his tenure with the Wildcats as the hope is also that Michigan State can soon find themselves in the National Rankings under the leadership of Coach Fitzgerald. When it comes to championships and awards, Fitzgerald was able to bring the Wildcats to the Big Ten championship twice back in 2018 and 2020 as they claimed the West Division titles in their conference along with being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2018 and being named the 2020 Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year. Although he had success on the field with Northwestern, his off the field life was rather more difficult where in 2023, the University released evidence from an internal investigation into hazing within the football program. Even though Fitzgerald stated that he had no knowledge about the incident that occurred within the organization, the school made the decision that it was best for Fitzgerald to move on from the program. Fortunately enough, Fitzgerald was given the opportunity by the football program of Michigan State to have a second chance at a coaching gig which will be very interesting to see how it will go when it’s all said and done. When it comes to how he will build his team because of the fact that he was at a school that had difficulty trying to attract talent and being in a good spot in the recruiting ranks, it will be interesting to see who will come to the program and play for him. However, Fitzgerald has been recognized for having his teams being played with “extreme toughness and grit” which fits well with a football team that is in the state of Michigan.
As both Michigan State along with Pat Fitzgerald turn the page in their respective chapters, the hiring is a sign that this is the beginning of a new era in East Lansing. While it is unsure as to how the new season will unfold, it is worth noting that the football program of Michigan State has a vision of how they can turn things around in the next couple of years. The Spartans seem to have got their guy, but only time will tell as to what the team will look like.
