Northwestern University has terminated the employment of its head football coach, Pat Fitzgerald, following allegations of hazing within the program. Prior to his dismissal, Fitzgerald had been suspended for two weeks while the university conducted an investigation into the claims. The decision to fire Fitzgerald came shortly after The Daily Northwestern, a student newspaper, published a report detailing instances of hazing within the football program.
The report, which included allegations from an anonymous former player, was released one day after Northwestern announced Fitzgerald’s suspension. The university had initially suspended the coach after a third-party law firm hired by the school found evidence supporting the claims of hazing following a six-month investigation. According to Northwestern President Michael Schill, eleven current or former football players admitted to the existence of hazing within the program, which included forced participation, nudity, and sexually degrading acts, in violation of the school’s policies and values. However, the investigation failed to uncover any credible evidence that Coach Fitzgerald himself was aware of the hazing.
In addition to the hazing allegations, three former Northwestern football players also spoke out about instances of racism within the coaching staff and among players, describing a culture of enabling racism. These incidents allegedly took place during the late 2000s when the players were part of the team.
Pat Fitzgerald served as the head coach at Northwestern for 17 seasons, from 2006 to 2022. During his tenure, the team had not participated in a Bowl Game since their victory in the Citrus Bowl in 2020. Last season, Northwestern finished with a 1-11 record in the Big Ten, following a 3-9 record the previous year.
In response to the hazing allegations, the Northwestern football team released a statement claiming that the accusations were exaggerated and distorted, expressing their support for Coach Fitzgerald. The team’s statement also asserted that Fitzgerald had no knowledge of or involvement in the alleged hazing incidents.
Fitzgerald, 48, had signed a 10-year, $57 million contract extension with Northwestern in 2021, intended to keep him with the school until 2030. Northwestern had also proposed plans earlier this year to demolish the current football stadium and build a new $800 million stadium.
In conclusion, Northwestern University has made the decision to fire head football coach Pat Fitzgerald following allegations of hazing within the football program. While the investigation found evidence of ongoing hazing, there was no credible evidence indicating that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of these activities. The university’s decision to dismiss Fitzgerald comes after a two-week suspension and publication of a report by The Daily Northwestern. The report also revealed instances of racism within the program, as described by three former players. Pat Fitzgerald had been the head coach for 17 seasons and had recently signed a long-term contract extension. Despite the team’s support for the coach, the university chose to sever ties with Fitzgerald.
