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Dave McKenna

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats is seen during the 2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

College Football

Scandal-Plagued Michigan State Hires Scandal-Plagued Pat Fitzgerald


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A photo of former Michigan State coach Mel Tucker on the left and former Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald on the right.

The Football Coach Always Gets Paid

Head coach Mel Tucker of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on November 26, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. He's wearing a green jacket and a headset.

Mel Tucker Officially Fired From Michigan State

Patrick Redford

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Mel Tucker of the Michigan State Spartans looks on prior to a game against the Richmond Spiders at Spartan Stadium on September 09, 2023 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Mel Tucker Isn’t Going Quietly

Head coach Mel Tucker of the Michigan State Spartans looks on in the fourth quarter of a game agains the Richmond Spiders at Spartan Stadium on September 09, 2023 in East Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan State Has Begun The Process Of Firing Mel Tucker

A general view of Spartan Stadium during the game between Notre Dame and Michigan State Spartans on September 23, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. The stadium is packed.

13 Years After Lizzy Seeberg, Going Up Against College Football Remains A Fraught Idea

Head coach Mel Tucker of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State