Michigan State has parted ways with Jonathan Smith after a 4-8 2025 season, and sources say the Spartans plan to hire Pat Fitzgerald.
On Sunday, just a day after the Spartans closed out a 4–8 season with a 38–28 win over Maryland, Michigan State announced it was firing head coach Jonathan Smith.
His two-year run ends with a 9–15 on-field record (4–8 this season), though NCAA-mandated vacating of wins leaves his official numbers even bleaker.
REPORT: Michigan State is expected to hire former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, per @freep👀https://t.co/xJzbEQYouf https://t.co/uTxLlu6cw5 pic.twitter.com/6BSFPyxwm0
— On3 (@On3sports) November 30, 2025
Athletic director J Batt said the 2025 campaign “has not lived up to our shared standards for Michigan State Football,” adding that while the failures are not solely Smith’s, “it’s become necessary to make a coaching change to chart a new direction for the program.”
For a program that once contended regularly in the Big Ten and appeared in major bowl games as recently as the early 2020s, the decision marks a stark but perhaps overdue turning point.
Enter Pat Fitzgerald
Within hours of Smith’s dismissal, reports emerged linking Pat Fitzgerald as the frontrunner to become Michigan State’s next head coach. Fitzgerald, 50, spent 17 seasons at Northwestern, compiling a 110–101 record, winning two Big Ten West titles, and leading the Wildcats to multiple bowl wins.
Fitzgerald has been out of coaching since his departure in 2023 after a hazing scandal at Northwestern; the two sides settled a wrongful-termination lawsuit earlier this year.
Michigan State has hired Pat Fitzgerald as their new Head Coach🟢
Fitzgerald at Northwestern from 2006-2022:
110 Wins (Most in Northwestern History)
2X Big Ten West Division Champs
83.3 Defensive Grade (’14-’22) pic.twitter.com/sHHP7KF6Ys— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 30, 2025
People familiar with the situation say an official announcement could come this week.
Meanwhile, Spartan fans and analysts alike watch closely, hopeful that Fitzgerald’s reputation for toughness and Big Ten experience could bring much-needed stability and credibility back to East Lansing.
Why this matters and what remains risky
This represents the third head-coach rebuild for Michigan State in the past few years (following the exit of Mel Tucker and then Smith), signaling repeated failure to restore the program to prominence.
Hiring Fitzgerald would come with upside. His proven record in the Big Ten, familiarity with conference recruiting, and bowl-game experience could help Michigan State re-attract talent and compete again, especially if paired with institutional investment and strong staff hires.
Pat Fitzgerald gets it.
My coach gets it. pic.twitter.com/po3oD90BiF
— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) November 30, 2025
But challenges remain. Fitzgerald’s recent past at Northwestern, including the hazing-related controversies, may raise eyebrows among boosters, alumni, and recruits.
Moreover, the Spartans’ instability in recent years extends beyond coaching: roster disruption, NIL competition, and reputational baggage continue to haunt the program.
For Michigan State, the next few weeks are crucial. If the school truly commits to a stable rebuild, choosing the right assistants, investing in recruiting, and restoring faith in the fan base, this could be the reset the Spartans need.
If not, this may just be another turn in a coaching carousel that yields little real progress.
