Pat Forde: Why Pat Fitzgerald Feels Like the Perfect Fit at Michigan State - Sports Illustrated

What the report says

Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde framed Pat Fitzgerald’s move to Michigan State as a notable reset for both coach and program, reporting from Big Ten media days in Chicago on July 30, 2026. Fitzgerald, 51, is returning to college coaching after three seasons away, a period that included volunteer coaching at Loyola Academy and attending Iowa games as a parent while his son Ryan was with the Hawkeyes.

Fitzgerald was dismissed by Northwestern in summer 2023 after hazing allegations in the Wildcats’ program. According to SI, investigations found highly inappropriate conduct in the football program but determined Fitzgerald did not condone or direct the hazing. Fitzgerald later settled a wrongful-termination suit with Northwestern, clearing the path for a return to coaching.

The article says Michigan State is also trying to recover from a difficult stretch. The Spartans have had four consecutive losing seasons, their longest such run since 1980–83, after the Mel Tucker tenure collapsed and Jonathan Smith lasted two seasons. Forde notes the program’s more recent high points, including a 2015 College Football Playoff appearance and seven double-digit-win seasons from 2010 to 2021, as context for Fitzgerald’s stated expectation that Michigan State should compete for Big Ten championships.

SI compares Fitzgerald’s style to former Spartans coach Mark Dantonio, emphasizing toughness, close-game execution and Big Ten identity. The story also points to Fitzgerald’s Northwestern record, including Big Ten title game appearances in 2018 and 2020, while noting his final teams struggled badly on offense. The broader significance is whether a coach and program both coming off setbacks can rebuild together in an increasingly competitive Big Ten.