Michigan State University has appointed Pat Fitzgerald, the former Northwestern head coach dismissed amid a hazing scandal, to lead its American football programme. The announcement on Monday marks a significant and controversial move for the Spartans, who are seeking to rebuild after their own recent turmoil.
A Controversial Appointment for the Spartans
The university's athletic director, J Batt, confirmed the hiring, stating Fitzgerald would replace Jonathan Smith, who was fired after a disappointing 4-15 record over two seasons. Fitzgerald, 51, signs on for his second head coaching role following a 17-year tenure at his alma mater, Northwestern, from 2006 to 2022.
In a statement, Batt hailed the appointment as "the beginning of a new era," praising Fitzgerald as "an exceptional football coach" whose teams demonstrate "extreme toughness and grit." He emphasised Fitzgerald's understanding of the Big Ten conference and his Midwest connections as ideal fits for the programme.
Fitzgerald expressed his honour at the opportunity, thanking President Kevin Guskiewicz and AD J Batt. "This is a programme with a deep and storied tradition," he said. "We will restore tradition, and I'm eager to earn the trust of our players, alumni, and fans while competing at the highest level."
A Shadow from Evanston: The Northwestern Hazing Allegations
Fitzgerald's arrival in East Lansing comes with considerable baggage. In the summer of 2023, an independent investigation into Northwestern's football programme found knowledge of widespread hazing incidents was "widespread" within the team. The alleged activities included sexual abuse.
Fitzgerald was specifically accused of having knowledge of these hazing rituals. He was also alleged to have used hand signals that indicated freshman players should be physically and sexually assaulted for poor performance. Initially suspended for two weeks without pay, he was fired by Northwestern just three days later.
Fitzgerald denied any wrongdoing and subsequently sued the university for $130 million, claiming wrongful termination and reputational damage. The two parties reached an undisclosed settlement in August 2023.
Michigan State's Own Troubled Recent History
The hire is particularly striking given Michigan State's recent struggles with scandal within its own football department. Fitzgerald's task is to revive a programme that enjoyed success under Mark Dantonio, who won three Big Ten titles and reached the 2015 College Football Playoff before retiring after the 2019 season.
His successor, Mel Tucker, was fired for cause in September 2023 after being accused of sexual harassment by a prominent anti-sexual violence advocate. Tucker denies the allegations and has filed a lawsuit against the university for wrongful termination and defamation.
Furthermore, just last month, the NCAA handed Michigan State three years' probation and vacated all wins from 2022-2024 after finding Level I violations under Tucker. These included fielding ineligible players and staff providing impermissible recruiting benefits. Tucker received a three-year show-cause order, and the school was fined $30,000 plus 1.5% of the football budget.
Fitzgerald now steps into this challenging environment. His record at Northwestern was 110-101, featuring two Big Ten West division titles but also a dismal 4-21 finish in his final two seasons. The Spartans and their passionate fanbase will be watching closely to see if he can restore both winning form and institutional integrity to a programme in desperate need of both.
