Northwestern University made the decision to terminate Pat Fitzgerald, the long-standing head football coach, following an investigation that uncovered a series of hazing incidents involving his players. The hazing included acts of forced nudity and sexualized behavior. Prior to his termination, Fitzgerald had been suspended for two weeks without pay after the investigation found the hazing allegations to be credible.
Michael Schill, the president of Northwestern, stated in a release that the decision to fire Fitzgerald came after careful consideration of his earlier discipline and after consulting with the board of trustees, students, alumni, and Fitzgerald himself. Schill emphasized that the original decision to suspend Fitzgerald was his alone, just as the decision to part ways with him was also his.
The firing announcement came after The Daily Northwestern reported on allegations made by a player who accused teammates of subjecting younger players, mainly freshmen, to a sexual act while being restrained by roughly 10 teammates. The newspaper also reported on former players who described a racist culture within the football program.
Fitzgerald, an alumnus of Northwestern University who played linebacker as a student, has not yet commented on the situation, and his lawyer has not responded to inquiries. However, he told ESPN in a statement that he was surprised to learn about the termination without prior notification, as their agreement on the two-week suspension had been revoked by Schill. Fitzgerald mentioned that his agent and lawyer would take legal steps to protect his rights.
The investigation into the hazing allegations was conducted by Maggie Hickey of the law firm ArentFox Schiff, prompted by an anonymous complaint from a student-athlete. The investigation, spanning six months, did not find evidence that Fitzgerald had knowledge of the hazing, although it was widely known within the program. According to Schill, some players believed the hazing was harmless, but others experienced significant harm with long-term consequences.
Schill clarified that, to his knowledge, no student suffered physical injuries as a result of the hazing. Nevertheless, he asserted that as the head coach, Fitzgerald bore responsibility for the team culture, and the investigation revealed that hazing was prevalent and clearly not a secret within the program, giving Fitzgerald ample opportunity to become aware of it.
Fitzgerald had been a prominent figure in Northwestern University’s football program, both as a player and coach. He helped the team reach the Rose Bowl during his playing days as a linebacker and received the title of 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Throughout his tenure, he won five bowl games and maintained a 110-101 record as head coach. However, last season, the team struggled, ending with a 1-11 record.
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