Pat Fitzgerald has signed a five-year contract to become the next head football coach at Michigan State , sources told ESPN on Monday.

Fitzgerald will replace Jonathan Smith, who was fired Sunday following a victory against Maryland to cap a disappointing 4-8 season.

The 50-year-old Fitzgerald, who will be introduced by the Spartans on Tuesday, reached a settlement with Northwestern in August, two years after he sued the university amid a team hazing scandal that led to his firing following an investigation. Details of the settlement were not made public.

Former Northwestern football players started filing lawsuits in 2023, alleging sexual abuse and racial discrimination on the team. Similar allegations then spread across several sports.

Fitzgerald denied wrongdoing and sued fo

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