Northwestern confirms parting way with Pat Fitzgerald, additional details on hazing culture

Northwestern moved on from one of the football program’s biggest icons, with head coach Pat Fitzgerald being fired on Monday. Off the backs of several hazing allegations inside the program, Fitzgerald was originally suspended for two weeks. Now, the Wildcats will be looking for somebody new to run the show.

University president Michael Schill released a statement on the decision, explaining his thought process behind it. He explained how firing Fitzgerald was not an easy decision but one he ultimately made himself.

“The decision comes after a difficult and complex evaluation of my original discipline decision imposed last week on Coach Fitzgerald for his failure to know and prevent significant hazing in the football program. Over the last 72 hours, I have spent a great deal of time in thought and in discussions with people who love our University — the Chair and members of our Board of Trustees, faculty leadership, students, alumni and Coach Fitzgerald himself.

“I have also received many phone calls, text messages and emails from those I know, and those I don’t, sharing their thoughts. While I am appreciative of the feedback and considered it in my decision-making, ultimately, the decision to originally suspend Coach Fitzgerald was mine and mine alone, as is the decision to part ways with him.”

Schill also said multiple former and current football players were able to confirm there was hazing inside the program. The events go back “many years” according to them.

“During the investigation, eleven current or former football student-athletes acknowledged that hazing has been ongoing within the football program,” Schill said. “In new media reporting today, still more former Northwestern football student-athletes confirmed that hazing was systemic dating back many years. This has never been about one former student-athlete and his motives; this is much bigger than that.”

A potential big point here from Schill, as he said the hazing was “well-known by many in the program.” However, the investigator was never able to confirm Pat Fitzgerald was one of those who knew. Even so, Schill decided the culture of a football team is always dictated by a head coach — ultimately leading him to fire Fitzgerald.

“The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team,” Schill said. “The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening. Either way, the culture in Northwestern Football, while incredible in some ways, was broken in others.”

Fitzgerald began coaching at Northwestern in 2001, beginning as the linebacker coach. He eventually worked his way up to head coach and will finish his career with a 110-101 overall record. The Wildcats made two Big Ten Championships under his guidance and appeared in 10 games.