Michigan State has officially laid out the terms of its high-stakes bet on Pat Fitzgerald, unveiling a five-year, $30 million contract that could stretch to $54 million with incentives. For a program looking to reset its identity after a turbulent few years, this move signals a clear commitment to long-term stability-and winning.
Let’s break down the numbers. Fitzgerald’s base salary is set at $4 million per year, with an additional $1 million in supplemental income to start in 2026.
That supplemental pay jumps by $500,000 each year, maxing out at $3 million in 2030. By the end of the five-year deal, Fitzgerald would be pulling in $7 million annually.
But the real intrigue lies in the incentives.
Here’s where things get interesting: if Fitzgerald leads the Spartans to at least seven wins in any of the first three seasons, he triggers a one-year extension and a $500,000 raise for each of those seasons. Hit that seven-win mark three years in a row, and the contract balloons into an eight-year, $54 million deal. That’s a bold benchmark, especially considering Michigan State hasn’t hit seven wins since 2021 under Mel Tucker.
Speaking of Tucker, his shadow still looms over East Lansing. MSU is still on the hook for around $33.5 million of the $53 million deal it gave Jonathan Smith-who was brought in to replace Tucker in 2023 before being dismissed. Meanwhile, Tucker’s wrongful termination lawsuit over the nearly $75 million remaining on his contract is still playing out in civil court.
One financial silver lining for MSU: they won’t owe a buyout for Fitzgerald, who’s been out of coaching. That’s a rare break in a sport where coaching changes often come with hefty price tags.
There’s also a clear structure in place if Fitzgerald decides to leave early. He’d owe Michigan State $6.5 million if he departs before the end of 2026, with that figure decreasing each year-$5 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028, $3 million in 2029, and $1 million in 2030. On the flip side, if MSU decides to part ways with Fitzgerald, they’d owe him 72.5% of the remaining value on his deal.
This is the first major coaching hire for athletic director J Batt, who arrived from Georgia Tech in June. It’s a defining move-not just for the football program, but for Batt’s tenure as well. In Fitzgerald, Michigan State is banking on a seasoned leader to bring consistency and credibility back to a program that’s seen more headlines than highlights in recent years.
The deal is expected to be finalized at the Dec. 12 meeting of the MSU Board of Trustees. Until then, the numbers speak for themselves: Michigan State is all-in on Pat Fitzgerald, and the pressure to deliver is already mounting.