By Nelson EspinalShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberAccording to a Detroit Free Press report, former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald will take over the Michigan State Spartans after not coaching since 2023.
In a rare move, the Spartans fired Jonathan Smith and seemingly pulled off a quick turnaround, with a clear replacement in mind.
More news: Big Ten School Fires $33 Million Head Coach After 4-8 Season
Fitzgerald went 110-101 over 17 seasons at Northwestern, where he coached from 2006 to 2022, a tenure that made him the Wildcats' longest-serving coach.
The report comes from Chris Solari and Graham Coach, who say a contract has not been signed as of midday Sunday, Nov. 30, but the intentions and plans are clear.
...Additionally, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz has corroborated the initial report, indicating that Fitzgerald will indeed become the next head coach of the Spartans.
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More news: Lane Kiffin Breaks Silence Following LSU Hiring, Ole Miss Drama
Michigan State still owes over $30 million to Smith following his firing, as his contract still has five years left on the original seven-year deal.
The Spartans went 4-8 this season, with a 1-8 record in the Big Ten under Smith, and 9-15 overall in the two seasons under their now-former head coach.
The decision to fire Smith was made by the new athletic director, J Batt, who cited the need for change.
"The 2025 football season has not lived up to our shared standards for Michigan State Football. While that does not fall solely on Jonathan Smith, it's become necessary to make a coaching change in order to chart a new direction for the program," Batt said in a statement.
"We are appreciative of Coach Smith and the manner in which he represented Michigan State with class. Throughout a difficult season, the team continued to compete. While their efforts ultimately didn't result in enough on-field success, they do speak highly for their character."
Fitzgerald will have a strong pipeline locally in Michigan to tap into during his rebuild, along with ample financial resources to build a roster in his image.
Time will tell whether letting go of Smith so early in his tenure was the right move and whether Fitzgerald becomes the man to resurrect the program.
More news: Florida Making Major Staff Move After Jon Sumrall Hiring
For more college football news, head to Newsweek Sports.
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