Pat Fitzgerald was officially named the Michigan State football coach on Monday, Dec. 1.

The former Northwestern coach becomes the 27th coach in program history and fourth since Mark Dantonio’s sudden retirement in early 2020. Fitzgerald, who turns 51 on Tuesday, takes over for Jonathan Smith, who was fired Sunday after going 4-8 this season and 9-15 over a two-year tenure.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for Michigan State Football,” first-year MSU athletic director J Batt wrote in a statement. “Pat Fitzgerald is widely recognized as an exceptional football coach, whose teams play with extreme toughness and grit, demonstrate continual improvement and maximize potential. Pat is an excellent fit for Michigan State Football, as he understands the Big Ten, has great relationships

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