It’s official: Pat Fitzgerald is Michigan State’s new football coach.

Michigan State made the hiring official Monday. The Detroit News reported Sunday that the university intended to hire Fitzgerald, formerly of Big Ten peer Northwestern, to take over the Spartan football program after Jonathan Smith’s ouster after two seasons in East Lansing.

Terms were not disclosed. The hiring requires formal approval from the MSU Board of Trustees. The next scheduled meeting is Dec. 12.

"I am honored to be named the head football coach at Michigan State University,” Fitzgerald said in a statement released by Michigan State. “I’d like to thank President (Kevin) Guskiewicz and Athletics Director (J) Batt for this opportunity. This is a program with a deep and storied tradition, a passionate fan ba

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