Northwestern University Fires Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald Over Widespread Hazing Allegations
Northwestern University made a shocking decision on Monday to terminate Pat Fitzgerald, the longtime head football coach, following an investigation that uncovered widespread hazing within the program. The hazing activities reportedly involved forced nudity and sexualized acts by players.
Just three days prior to his dismissal, the university had announced that Fitzgerald would be suspended for two weeks without pay as a result of the investigation, which found the hazing allegations to be credible. However, after careful evaluation and consultations with various stakeholders, including the board of trustees, students, alumni, and Fitzgerald himself, the university decided to part ways with the coach.
Northwestern President, Michael Schill, issued a statement regarding the decision, stating, “The decision to originally suspend Coach Fitzgerald was mine and mine alone, as is the decision to part ways with him.” The university made it clear that the investigation did not uncover evidence that Fitzgerald had knowledge of the hazing activities, although it was a well-known issue within the program.
The firing of Fitzgerald came after The Daily Northwestern published an anonymous account from a player detailing a disturbing incident involving mainly freshmen. The player alleged that around ten teammates had restrained a younger player in a sexual act as a form of punishment. The same publication also reported that three former football players claimed there was a racist culture within the football program.
As an alumnus of Northwestern University and a former linebacker during his undergraduate years, Fitzgerald has long been associated with the school’s football program. He achieved significant success as both a player and a coach, with several bowl game wins and being named the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year. However, last season saw a disappointing record of 1-11 for the team.
The university’s investigation, led by Maggie Hickey of the law firm ArentFox Schiff, was initiated based on an anonymous complaint from a student-athlete in November 2022 and spanned six months. Although the investigation did not attribute knowledge of the hazing to Fitzgerald, the law firm’s findings revealed that the hazing was widespread and widely known within the program.
According to Schill, some players believed the hazing was harmless, while others reported significant harm and long-term consequences. However, physical injuries resulting from these behaviors were not reported during the investigation.
Schill emphasized that the head coach is ultimately responsible for fostering team culture, and the hazing incidents presented ample opportunities for Fitzgerald to become aware of the situation. The decision to terminate Fitzgerald was thus made in light of his role in overseeing the program.
As of now, Pat Fitzgerald has not provided any comment in response to his termination. The university will now be tasked with finding a new head coach to lead the football program and address the issues of hazing and a potentially racist culture within the team.