Do you think Kirk not regrets letting Pat get as close to the program as some have reported now that he has been hired within the conference? I would venture to guess that there is as Pat would have been generally familiar by virtue of being a coach in the same conference, but if he got a lot of behind the curtain looks that is a different ball game.
Pat Fitzgerald Closeness to Program
- Thread starter ChiefRhoads
- Start date
I doubt that too many "secrets" were disclosed and I suspect that Coach Fitzgerald probably provided some positive input around the edges of things. Additionally, it seems commonplace that coaches "intern" themselves into competing programs from time to time. ... visits to training camp and so on.
Remember that Nick Saban hired a couple of fired coaches to be on his staff ... coaches who went on to coach against Alabama. I always sensed that Sabin ended up understanding the instincts and motivations of those coaches better than the other way around.
I came out of this ultra impressed that Fitzgerald trusted his son to our coaches. However, if there is a leak of confidential information, it will more likely be via this avenue.
Remember that Nick Saban hired a couple of fired coaches to be on his staff ... coaches who went on to coach against Alabama. I always sensed that Sabin ended up understanding the instincts and motivations of those coaches better than the other way around.
I came out of this ultra impressed that Fitzgerald trusted his son to our coaches. However, if there is a leak of confidential information, it will more likely be via this avenue.
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Or Pat could just wait for his son to come home for Christmas break and download his iPad with the entire Iowa playbook on it.
How long is it until his son shows up in the transfer portal?
Doesn't matter. He can watch film. And we do not play Mich State the next 2 years.
Doubt it,.. Kirk is an open book, and there is no secret sauce in Iowa City.
LOL KF has been doing the same crap for 25 years, his only secret is when he is going to quit. Fitzy knows those simpleton schemes better than his own. Wasn't he like 9-8 or something vs KF. 8-9 vs N'western, that is not very good.
That isn’t true at all. Offense is quite a bit different. developing players and a winning culture are the keys to Iowa being one of four programs to win 8+ over the past decade
And also, his kid has studied our offense extensively (being on the team). They could talk anytime at home.
If Fitz uses 2 Year old information as the basis of a game plan against Lester it will not end well , Teams change signs / calls often especially in the transfer era.
Maybe, the automatic home OOC wins, with apologies to North Dakota St, and the Big 10 west look to be the real reason.
Oh ok doosh Georgia Alabama Ohio state Iowa. Most success over past decade. Notice Nebraska and Iowa state aren’t there.
It is like Deja Vous from Ferentz's first season.
Good thing it takes at least 3 years to understand our offense because of its complexity. Fitz's boy is still in Kirk's preschool.
Iowa players STILL talk about it being complicated and they're with it every day. Unless Patty's an offensive guru now I wouldn't sweat it.
If this was the old Big Ten division days and he went to Wisconsin or a division team we played yearly I'd be mildly concerned.
We don't play them for two years, who knows if Lester or Ferentz for that matter are still in Iowa City by that point.
We don't play them for two years, who knows if Lester or Ferentz for that matter are still in Iowa City by that point.
Iowa football has been largely "figured out" since 2000 or so. There aren't any big secrets.
If this was potentially such a big factor, wouldn’t Nestor have been able to provide a big help to Minnesota this year?
We all know how that one turned out.
We all know how that one turned out.
Big Ten West was 10-14 against the SEC when it existed. In fact, they had an okay record against most conferences. The problem was that outside of Iowa and Wisconsin nobody could beat Michigan, Ohio St., Michigan St. or Penn St.
Another name to look out for in Michigan State's search for a DC
Story by Cory Linsner, Spartans Wire• 15h•
2 min read
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Michigan State football has introduced Pat Fitzgerald as the school's 27th head coach in school history, replacing Jonathan Smith as the leader of the program.
Now, Fitzgerald is tasked with building his staff in East Lansing, which some would call the most important decision of his early tenure. Earlier this week, I identified five coaches that could fill that defensive coordinator position, but after some thought and discussions with people around the program, there was a name that was missing.
Seth Wallace is a name to look out for. Iowa's assistant head coach, assistant defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, has been the understudy to Phil Parker. I did mention that Parker was the dream candidate for the Spartans, but if you can't get your dream, get the next best thing.
Fitzgerald is known for having a strong relationship with Iowa's coaching staff, including Kirk Ferentz, Parker, and more, making this connection make a ton of sense.
Wallace has been with Iowa from 2014 to now, where he has served various roles, but has predominately been a linebackers coach with the Hawkeyes. In 2017, he was given the role as assistant defensive coordinator, before getting the assistant head coach role in 2024.
Iowa's linebackers have been a beacon of success in the Big Ten, and with Parker being a defensive backs coach, that success can be attributed to Wallace.
All in all, Wallace may not have defensive coordinator experience in his own right, at the power level, but he has learned from, and has had a significant part in one of the best defenses in college football over the last decade.
Be on the lookout for Wallace to be in the mix for the Spartans open defensive coordinator position.
Wallace received a nice pay bump last year, would you as that program bring him into make double what he is right now as a first year DC?
Well I could be very wrong about this, but given his promotion, I am betting he will be a top candidate for the Iowa job when Kirk hangs it up. Much lower risk for a higher reward.
could it be better for iowa if he spends a couple years at msu and then returns to get the reigns (after a proper search) at iowa?
DC to HC would be better.
Would Phil step back a little and let SW take over at Iowa as DC and Phil do Seth's current role?
i’m not sure parker playing kok’s (for brian) role for wallace is advisable but that’s just me
would be better if wallace showed as dc at msu to prove something and then return to iowa as hc
Earlier this week, Michigan State agreed to a long-term deal with a new head coach, hiring former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, a proven leader with extensive Big Ten experience.
Just days later, on Friday, On3 NIL reported that the Michigan State athletic department received a massive $401 million donation from Greg and Dawn Williams through the university’s “Uncommon Will, Far, Better World” campaign. Greg Williams, a longtime supporter of collegiate athletics and NIL initiatives, is the founder and CEO of Acrisure.
“This commitment reflects our belief that we should give back to our community…and to the place we call home,” said the Williams’ via press release. “MSU is not only the face of our community, but the health and well-being of East Lansing depend on a thriving and successful MSU. In this regard, we’re proud and blessed to be in a position to support MSU’s leadership and its ambitious vision for the future. “Some of our family’s fondest and most bonding memories revolve around MSU athletics, so these funds are well placed in supporting an institution that contributed so meaningfully to our lives.”
Just days later, on Friday, On3 NIL reported that the Michigan State athletic department received a massive $401 million donation from Greg and Dawn Williams through the university’s “Uncommon Will, Far, Better World” campaign. Greg Williams, a longtime supporter of collegiate athletics and NIL initiatives, is the founder and CEO of Acrisure.
“This commitment reflects our belief that we should give back to our community…and to the place we call home,” said the Williams’ via press release. “MSU is not only the face of our community, but the health and well-being of East Lansing depend on a thriving and successful MSU. In this regard, we’re proud and blessed to be in a position to support MSU’s leadership and its ambitious vision for the future. “Some of our family’s fondest and most bonding memories revolve around MSU athletics, so these funds are well placed in supporting an institution that contributed so meaningfully to our lives.”
Wow...Fitz is gonna have a lot of ammo to re-stock the cupboard.
MSU has some big shooters, including the mortgage giant guy that played for Izzo and owns the Suns.
Crazy how college sports in Michigan has become Larry Ellison vs the Williams.
MSU has some big shooters, including the mortgage giant guy that played for Izzo and owns the Suns.
Crazy how college sports in Michigan has become Larry Ellison vs the Williams.
fitz was on BTN today and said goal is a consistent top 10 program in the country
It will be interesting to see how successful Fitz is at MSU verses his time at NW with superior resources and less restrictive enrollment.