Pat Fitzgerald, the newly appointed head coach for Michigan State, is beginning his inaugural season with a remarkable degree of job security. According to the latest 'hot seat' ratings compiled by CBS Sports for all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coaches, Fitzgerald has been assigned a very low rating of 0.7 on a scale of zero to five, a score that effectively deems him "untouchable" in his role.
This evaluation comes despite a transitional period for the Spartans' athletic department. Fitzgerald was brought in to replace Jonathan Smith, who spent only two years at the helm before his departure. Curiously, the athletic director responsible for Fitzgerald's recruitment, J Batt, has also since moved on to Kentucky after a brief tenure with Michigan State. However, these changes do not appear to have impacted the perception of Fitzgerald's stability among his peers and sports analysts, as evidenced by his exceptionally secure standing.
For context, another prominent new head coach, Kyle Whittingham of Michigan, received a higher 'hot seat' rating of 1.5. This difference is largely attributed to the significantly elevated expectations placed on the Wolverines to achieve immediate success compared to the Spartans, highlighting the unique and secure position Fitzgerald finds himself in at the start of his coaching journey with Michigan State.
The current landscape of college football coaching often sees new hires under immediate pressure to perform. However, Pat Fitzgerald's situation at Michigan State presents a refreshing anomaly. His 'untouchable' status suggests a strategic, long-term vision from the university, emphasizing development and stability over instant results. This approach, while less common in today's high-stakes collegiate sports, fosters a positive environment for growth and allows a coach to build a program with a clear and unburdened mind, ultimately benefiting the student-athletes and the institution.
