Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Pat Fitzgerald Named to AFCA Board of Trustees
2/10/2026 11:05:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has announced that Michigan State head football coach Pat Fitzgerld will join organization's Board of Trustees.
Fitzgerald is one of six new head coaches named to the AFCA Board of Trustees in 2026, along with Texas Tech's Joey McGuire, New Mexico's Jason Eck, San Diego State's Sean Lewis, Montana State's Brent Vigen and Old Dominion's Ricky Rahne. Kentucky wide receivers coach Joe Price III has also been named to the board as an ex officio member.
Those coaches will join a group of distinguished head coaches who guide the organization. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 by Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman and others. Returning members of the AFCA Board of Trustees include 2026 president Clark Lea of Vanderbilt, first vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest, second vice-president Bret Bielema of Illinois and third vice-president Steve Ryan of Morningside.
Also serving on the Board in 2026 are: Jason Simpson, UT Martin; Alvin Parker, Virginia Union; Tony Elliott, Virginia; Brent Venables, Oklahoma; Jerheme Urban, Trinity (Texas); Jas Bains, Western Colorado; Jamey Chadwell, Liberty; Jeff Monken, Army West Point; Lance Taylor, Western Michigan; Kalani Sitake, BYU; Rhett Lashlee, SMU; Van Malone, Hampton, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.
This marks the second AFCA Board of Trustees appointment for Fitzgerald. During his 17-year head coaching tenure at Northwestern (2006-22), Fitzgerald served on the AFCA board from 2012-21. He was the president of the association in 2021. Northwestern won the AFCA Academic Achievement Award seven times under Fitzgerald, and he was named Honorary Head Coach of the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
For the complete release on the AFCA Board of Trustees, please click here.
Fitzgerald is one of six new head coaches named to the AFCA Board of Trustees in 2026, along with Texas Tech's Joey McGuire, New Mexico's Jason Eck, San Diego State's Sean Lewis, Montana State's Brent Vigen and Old Dominion's Ricky Rahne. Kentucky wide receivers coach Joe Price III has also been named to the board as an ex officio member.
Those coaches will join a group of distinguished head coaches who guide the organization. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 by Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman and others. Returning members of the AFCA Board of Trustees include 2026 president Clark Lea of Vanderbilt, first vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest, second vice-president Bret Bielema of Illinois and third vice-president Steve Ryan of Morningside.
Also serving on the Board in 2026 are: Jason Simpson, UT Martin; Alvin Parker, Virginia Union; Tony Elliott, Virginia; Brent Venables, Oklahoma; Jerheme Urban, Trinity (Texas); Jas Bains, Western Colorado; Jamey Chadwell, Liberty; Jeff Monken, Army West Point; Lance Taylor, Western Michigan; Kalani Sitake, BYU; Rhett Lashlee, SMU; Van Malone, Hampton, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.
This marks the second AFCA Board of Trustees appointment for Fitzgerald. During his 17-year head coaching tenure at Northwestern (2006-22), Fitzgerald served on the AFCA board from 2012-21. He was the president of the association in 2021. Northwestern won the AFCA Academic Achievement Award seven times under Fitzgerald, and he was named Honorary Head Coach of the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
For the complete release on the AFCA Board of Trustees, please click here.
Pat Fitzgerald | Signing Day Press Conference | Feb. 4 2026
Wednesday, February 04
A New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Maryland
Saturday, November 29