Michigan State is moving on from Jonathan Smith and appears to already have the next leader of the football program lined up.

The Spartans plan to hire former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, according to multiple reports on Sunday, the first from the Lansing State Journal/Detroit Free Press.

That would make for a very quick coaching search after Smith was fired earlier Sunday after posting a 9-15 record over two seasons . It would also help explain the silence from athletic director J Batt prior to announcing Smith was out.

Fitzgerald, 50, posted a 110-101 record in 17 seasons at Northwestern before being fired in July 2023 amid allegations of hazing within the program. He filed a $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the school that was settled in August for an undiscl

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