Michigan State Hires Pat Fitzgerald as New Football Coach

Fitzgerald takes over Spartans program after successful tenure at Northwestern

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:18am

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Michigan State University has officially hired Pat Fitzgerald as their new head football coach, replacing Mel Tucker who departed for another job. Fitzgerald comes to East Lansing after a successful 16-year run as the head coach at Northwestern University, where he led the Wildcats to several bowl game appearances and a Big Ten West division title.

Why it matters

Fitzgerald's hiring represents a major shift for the Michigan State football program, which has struggled in recent years to regain its status as a Big Ten powerhouse. As an experienced and respected coach, Fitzgerald is expected to bring stability and a winning pedigree to the Spartans, helping to reinvigorate the team's fan base and recruiting efforts.

The details

Fitzgerald, 51, agreed to a 6-year contract with Michigan State worth an estimated $5 million per year. He inherits a Spartans team that went 5-7 last season and has not won a Big Ten title since 2015. At Northwestern, Fitzgerald compiled a 110-81 record and led the Wildcats to 10 bowl games, including a Big Ten West division championship in 2018.

  • Fitzgerald was officially hired as Michigan State's new head coach on December 1, 2025.
  • He spent the previous 16 seasons as the head coach at Northwestern University, from 2006 to 2025.

The players

Pat Fitzgerald

The new head football coach at Michigan State University, hired in December 2025 after a successful 16-year tenure leading the Northwestern Wildcats program.

Mel Tucker

The former head football coach at Michigan State, who departed the program in 2025 to take another job elsewhere.

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What they’re saying

“Pat Fitzgerald is an excellent choice to lead the Michigan State football program. He has proven himself as one of the top coaches in the Big Ten, and I believe he will bring a winning mentality and strong recruiting prowess to East Lansing.”

— Jim Harbaugh, Head Football Coach, University of Michigan

“I'm excited to get to work and build Michigan State back into a Big Ten contender. It's a storied program with a rich tradition, and I'm honored to be entrusted with taking it to new heights.”

— Pat Fitzgerald

What’s next

Fitzgerald will begin assembling his coaching staff in the coming weeks and will also focus on recruiting top high school talent to Michigan State for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The hiring of Pat Fitzgerald represents a major coup for Michigan State as they look to regain their status as one of the top football programs in the Big Ten. Fitzgerald's track record of success at Northwestern, combined with his reputation as an excellent recruiter and developer of talent, make him an ideal fit to lead the Spartans back to prominence.