Lawsuit: Northwestern Faces $130M Claim as Coach Fired amidst Hazing Investigation

Former Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald is taking the university to court, months after being suspended and then fired amid an investigation into hazing. Attorneys Dan Webb and Matthew Carter report that Fitzgerald is filing a wrongful termination lawsuit, seeking $130 million in damages, including future lost income, and claiming “infliction of emotional distress,” according to a report by CBS Sports. Fitzgerald, who was a star linebacker for the Northwestern Wildcats in the 1990s, served as coach for 17 seasons. Webb states, “If there was ever an athletic coach at Northwestern University that should not have been terminated, it’s Coach Fitzgerald.”

Fitzgerald was suspended in July following a six-month external investigation led by former Illinois inspector general Maggie Hickey. The investigation concluded that while there was not “sufficient” evidence to prove that the coaches were aware of the hazing, they had ample opportunities to discover it, as reported by the AP. Fitzgerald was ultimately fired when additional details about the hazing surfaced. Webb believes that the hazing allegations were exaggerated and that the anonymous whistleblower held a grudge against the coach, as reported by WGN-TV.

Northwestern University released a statement on Thursday expressing confidence in its decision to terminate Fitzgerald and vowing to vigorously defend its position in court. The university asserts that Fitzgerald had a responsibility to be aware of the hazing and put an end to it, but failed to do so. It stated that student-athletes provided corroborating evidence, demonstrating without a doubt that hazing, including nudity and sexualized acts, occurred under Fitzgerald’s watch. (Read more Northwestern University stories.)