Tuesday is a big day for Pat Fitzgerald. Not only is it his 51st birthday, but he’s also going to be introduced as Michigan State’s next head coach.
The 51-year-old former Northwestern head coach and College Football Hall of Fame linebacker accepted the job to lead Michigan State into the future after J Batt made the tough decision to fire Jonathan Smith after two disappointing seasons in East Lansing.
Fitzgerald feels like the perfect fit for a storied program like Michigan State which has built its reputation on toughness and hard work. He’s known for both of those qualities, leading Northwestern to some of its most successful seasons in program history.