Fitzgerald Era Opens Before Dawn: Michigan State Kicks Off Spring Practice Under New Head Coach

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The sun had yet to rise over the Spartan practice fields when Pat Fitzgerald arrived for his first official workout as Michigan State head coach, greeted by the sight of students already celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at 4:50 a.m. The former Northwestern coach, who was formally introduced to the MSU faithful during a men’s basketball game against Iowa on Dec. 2, wasted no time establishing the culture he wants in East Lansing.

“It’s great to be out on the field with the guys,” Fitzgerald said after Tuesday’s 6 a.m. start. “I’ve been working diligently since day one when I got here to get to this point, and today was a great first step.”

The predawn practice was not a symbolic wake-up call; rather, it was a logistical decision designed to maximize reps before players scatter to morning classes. With 15 spring sessions ahead, Fitzgerald emphasized that Day 1 was about learning how to practice—communication, tempo and fundamentals across all three phases of the game.

“We’ve got a lot of different things we need to get done schematically,” he noted, “but how we practice, fundamentally, how we want to attack whatever concept we’re doing—that’s the priority.”

Fitzgerald also revealed a nod to New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel: the first “play” installed with the Spartans was not a formation or route tree, but the Michigan State fight song. On Monday morning the Spartan Marching Band surprised the team at 7 a.m., blasting the familiar tune as players sang along.

“I want everything we do to be about the end in mind,” Fitzgerald explained. “You earn the privilege to sing the fight song with the band and the students.”

Roughly 24 hours into his tenure, Fitzgerald already carries a notebook full of corrections, but he accepts the process. “Nobody dreams of day two,” he said, “but that’s where champions are made.”

Michigan State will continue spring drills leading up to the annual spring game, with Fitzgerald’s emphasis on turning mental toughness into physical execution guiding every repetition.