EAST LANSING — Michigan State announced on Sunday that it is moving on from head football coach Jonathan Smith, and new details have emerged about who is next in line to lead the green and white.
According to ESPN, the Spartans have hired former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald on a five-year deal.
Fitzgerald will be introduced on Tuesday. Now 50 years old, Fitzgerald was an All-American linebacker for Northwestern in his playing days and later spent 17 seasons as his alma mater’s head coach.
He compiled a 110-101 record and led the Wildcats to five bowl wins as well as Big Ten West championships in 2018 and 2020 in his time at the helm.
Fitzgerald was fired in 2023 due to a hazing scandal, but denied any wrongdoing and sued Northwestern for $130 million. He settled with the University for an unknown amount in August.
Michigan State will owe Jonathan Smith 3$0 million for his departure, according to his 7-year contract.
Smith won his final game against Maryland on Saturday, finishing with a 4-8 record and a 9-15 overall record over his two seasons in East Lansing, though all five of 2024’s wins have been vacated by the NCAA.
The Spartans’ leading rusher this year, Makhi Frazier, and leading receiver Nick Marsh are expected to enter the transfer portal, according to ESPN and CBS Sports, with others likely to follow as the new regime takes over.