Defensive Coordinator Candidates for Pat Fitzgerald to Consider

Michigan State needs a defensive coordinator. Who will Pat Fitzgerald hire?

Michigan State's new football coach Pat Fitzgerald addresses the crowd during a timeout in the first half of the Spartans basketball game against Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald officially has the title and the office; now it’s time for him to build his staff. 

Fitzgerald has famously built his identity on toughness and strength, with a focus on the defensive side of the football. A former linebacker, Fitzgerald’s defenses are often fast, physical, and disciplined. 

The Spartans have struggled on defense in the past few seasons, despite historically being stellar on that side of the ball. MSU hopes that by hiring Fitzgerald, its defense returns to what fans are used to. 

Fitzgerald has a wealth of options to consider as his defensive coordinator. Who could he give a serious look to? 

Let’s break down some names that make sense for MSU. 

Joe Rossi 

Michigan State's defensive coordinator Joe Rossi runs to the locker room before the game against Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The current Spartan DC and interim head coach proved he deserves a shot on the next staff. 

Showing passion and heart despite a lost season, players love Rossi, and many hope to see him stay in East Lansing. It is hard to imagine Fitzgerald not liking the job Rossi has done in East Lansing over the last few seasons. 

Fitzgerald is familiar with Rossi from their respective time in the Big Ten West, Fitzgerald at Northwestern and Rossi at Minnesota. It would make sense for Fitzgerald to keep him around.

Tim McGarigle, Northwestern DC 

Oct 15, 2005; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Northwestern Wildcats linebacker #41 Tim McGarigle in action in the second quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Purdue Boilermakers 34-29. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-Imagn Images Copyright © 2005 Jerry Lai | Jerry Lai-Imagn Images

A player Fitzgerald is well familiar with, McGarigle should get a serious look for the job. 

McGarigle has worked with Fitzgerald since 2018, first as a linebackers coach, and then he took over as the defensive coordinator for the Wildcats under David Braun. The Wildcats were 13th and 10th in the Big Ten in total defense during his two seasons as the play-caller. 

McGarigle has done a good job leading the Wildcats, and he could do even better with a bigger talent pool in East Lansing. Don’t be surprised to see McGarigle get a shot. 

Max Bullough, Notre Dame Linebackers Coach 

Notre Dame linebackers coach Max Bullough runs into practice Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Irish Athletics Center in South Bend. | MANDATORY CREDIT: Austin Hough / South Bend Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

A rising star in the coaching ranks, Bullough, a former Spartan linebacker, has been in high demand from fans to return to East Lansing. 

Bullough has done a good job at Notre Dame coaching and developing Fighting Irish linebackers, using the same toughness and tenacity he played with in East Lansing as a position coach. He would be a great fit back at his alma mater. 

It’s unknown whether Fitzgerald would seriously consider bringing Bullough on as DC, but it would earn rave reviews from Spartan fans, and Bullough has earned a shot to move up in the coaching ranks.

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