Michigan State's Fitzgerald Reflects on Productive Spring Practice

New head coach sees growth in team bonding and development ahead of 2026 season opener

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:10pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in vibrant green and white hues, representing the chaotic movements and perspectives of a Michigan State football practice session.Cubist depiction of Michigan State's final spring practice under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald captures the energy and intensity of the team's preparation for the 2026 season.East Lansing Today

In his first spring practice as Michigan State's new head football coach, Pat Fitzgerald expressed optimism about the team's progress, noting improvements in player weight, strength, and overall team chemistry. Fitzgerald highlighted the alignment between the coaching staff, administration, and players in buying into the program's values and vision for the future.

Why it matters

Fitzgerald's debut season as Michigan State's head coach kicks off on September 5 against Toledo, so a strong spring practice lays the groundwork for a successful 2026 campaign. The Spartans are looking to rebound after a down year, and Fitzgerald's ability to quickly build team unity and buy-in will be crucial.

The details

Michigan State wrapped up its 15th and final spring practice on Saturday with an open session at Spartan Stadium. Despite chilly and breezy conditions, several thousand fans turned out to watch the team's final workout before the summer break. The practice included some fun team-building activities, like players spinning around a wiffleball bat and trying to eat a hot dog as fast as possible.

  • Michigan State completed its 15th and final spring practice on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • The Spartans open the 2026 season on September 5 against Toledo.
  • There are 110 days until the start of fall camp, 141 days until the season-opener, and 203 days until the rivalry game against Michigan.

The players

Pat Fitzgerald

The new head football coach of the Michigan State Spartans, taking over the program in 2026 after a successful tenure at Northwestern.

Joel Welsh

Michigan State's strength and conditioning coach, who has helped the team's players increase their average weight by over 6 pounds during the offseason.

Kevin Guskiewicz

The president of Michigan State University, providing alignment and support for Fitzgerald's vision for the football program.

J Batt

The athletic director of Michigan State University, working in tandem with Fitzgerald and the administration to build a successful football program.

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What they’re saying

“First of all, thanks everybody for being here. Huge thanks to the great Spartan nation fan base. What a beautiful 82-degree, sunny day today was. To see that type of support was amazing. Huge kudos and thank you to our great fans.”

— Pat Fitzgerald, Head Coach

“We've had a ton of development and growth, starting in the winter with the strength and coach (Joel) Welsh, our body weights are up over six pounds per guy. Just really impressed with the job he's done. And the way that our guys have come together and really started to forge a brotherhood, which, it's that giving of themselves for the greater good of the team. To see that growth as a group has been outstanding.”

— Pat Fitzgerald, Head Coach

“Really thankful for the alignment, to have Kevin Guskiewicz as our president and J Batt as our AD. You can feel that, along with our coaches and our staff, and the way that our players have bought into what we've brought here from a values thought-process, the way that we want to go about developing the program, developing them individually, they've bought in. But to have that alignment is something that I'm very grateful for and very thankful for as we move forward.”

— Pat Fitzgerald, Head Coach

What’s next

The Spartans will now take a few weeks off before returning for summer workouts to continue preparing for the 2026 season, which kicks off on September 5 against Toledo.

The takeaway

Fitzgerald's first spring practice at Michigan State has laid a strong foundation for the program's future, with players buying into the new coaching staff's vision and the administration providing alignment and support. The team's physical development and growing team chemistry bode well for a potential bounce-back season in 2026.