EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan State University has fired head football coach Jonathan Smith after two years leading the Spartans on the field. The school moved quickly to replace him with former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald .

The coaching change comes after an eight-game losing streak that left students eager for Smith’s departure.

“After our eight-loss streak, I think we were all really hoping that he was going to be out the door,” said MSU student Audrey Rapp.

Fellow student Matthew Davies said the change was needed for a program that has struggled in recent years.

“There were tons of good Spartan teams in the 2010’s,” Davies said. “It’s really sad to see us down, rock bottom of the Big Ten.”

MSU announced Monday that Fitzgerald has signed a 5-year contract, officiall

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