Michigan State fires Jonathan Smith: Spartans oust coach, Pat Fitzgerald emerges as target for replacement

Michigan State is firing coach Jonathan Smith one day after the Spartans concluded a 4-8 season, sources tell CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. Michigan State capped its 2025 campaign with a 38-28 victory over Maryland, which gave the Spartans their first Big Ten win of the season. 

Zenitz also reports that former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is expected to be the main target of Michigan State's coaching search. Fitzgerald won 110 games in 17 seasons with the Wildcats. 

Smith departs Michigan State after just two seasons and an official record of 4-15. The Spartans won five games in 2024, but they were vacated due to recruiting violations committed by former Michigan State coach Mel Tucker. 

Michigan State started the season 3-0 against nonconference opponents, including a double-overtime victory against 2-10 Boston College, before losing eight-straight Big Ten games. Those eight conference losses are its most since 2016. Six of those losses came by at least two possessions, as well. 

The Spartans finished in the bottom third of the Big Ten in both total offense (345.5 yards per game; 13th) and total defense (378.8 ypg; 14th). They failed to score more than 20 points in six out of their nine conference games while allowing 32.1 points per game to Big Ten opponents. 

CBS Sports will have more on this breaking news shortly.