Joel Klatt reacts to Michigan State hiring Pat Fitzgerald

Pat Fitzgerald is not just back in college football but is also back in the Big Ten, with his hire made by Michigan State. FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt thinks it’s a good decision, too, with what he can bring to the program in East Lansing.

Klatt reacted to the Spartans’ hiring of Fitzgerald during his show on Wednesday. He expressed his excitement for this move, with him thinking they got one of the better leaders in the sport, giving him his ultimate vote of confidence as far as that goes, at Michigan State.

“Pat Fitzgerald is going to be back in college football. I, for one, am very excited about this,” Klatt said. “I think Pat Fitzgerald is one of the great men and coaches in our sport. If I had a son, I have said this for a long time. He’s one of the rare guys that I would say, absolutely go play for Pat Fitzgerald.”

Obviously, his last tenure did not end well, whether on or off the field, at his alma mater in Northwestern. However, that has since been moved on from, with a $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit now settled and won by Fitzgerald back at the end of August.

As for his overall time with the Wildcats, Fitzgerald left as, by far, the winningest coach in program history, and one of the winningest coaches in the history of the conference, with a record of 110-101 (.521). That includes the most bowl game appearances in school history with 10 (5-5) and two appearances in the Big Ten Championship in 2018 and 2020.

It’s been quite the mess of a four seasons for Michigan State, since the end of the tenure of Mel Tucker and what ended up being a short, two-year tenure under Jonathan Smith. Now, though, there’s optimism in what Fitzgerald can bring to the Spartans, like here from Klatt.

Fitzgerald: ‘We will restore tradition’

Michigan State made the hiring of Pat Fitzgerald as head football coach official on Monday. The move follows Sunday’s firing of Jonathan Smith.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for Michigan State Football,” Michigan State AD 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 throughout the midwest and embodies the values on which our program was built. His incredible passion will resonate throughout the program, connecting with all members of our Spartan community, including student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and donors.As an institution, we are committed to providing the resources and infrastructure required to realize our shared vision of competing for championships, and with Pat leading the way, Spartan football is positioned for sustained success at the Big Ten and national level.”

“I am honored to be named the head football coach at Michigan State University,” Fitzgerald wrote in that statement as well. “I’d like to thank President Guskiewicz and Athletics Director Batt for this opportunity. This is a program with a deep and storied tradition, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence that extends far beyond the football field. What excited me most about this opportunity was the vision for what Michigan State can be for years to come. We will restore tradition, and I’m eager to earn the trust of our players, alumni and fans while competing at the highest level.”