Report: Northwestern fires baseball coach Jim Foster

Northwestern reportedly fired baseball head coach Jim Foster, according to Danny Parkins of 670 The Score. Parkins and the outlet originally reported Foster’s creation of a “toxic environment” within the program.

“BREAKING: Northwestern baseball coach Jim Foster has been fired,” Parkins wrote on Twitter. “The players were just informed via zoom by President Schill and AD Gragg.”

Parkins later said on the air Foster was “relieved of his duties.”

The original report of the toxic environment came on the heels of former football coach Pat Fitzgerald’s suspension. Fitzgerald was later fired amid the hazing allegations within the football program.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported Foster’s firing was inevitable but it was quite the busy week at Northwestern.

“Source: Northwestern has fired baseball coach Jim Foster,” Rittenberg wrote on Twitter. “I’m told the separation process began a while back and likely would have been resolved prior to football coach Pat Fitzgerald’s firing Monday, which obviously occupied the legal/HR folks. (Danny Parkins) first reported.”

Northwestern released a statement later Thursday evening following the decision.

“Nothing will ever be more important to Northwestern than providing its students a place that allows them to develop in the classroom, in the community, and in competition at the absolute highest level, and building a culture which allows our staff to thrive,” Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg said. “This has been an ongoing situation and many factors were considered before reaching this resolution. As the Director of Athletics, I take ownership of our head coaching hires and we will share our next steps as they unfold.”

Assistant coach Brian Anderson will assume leadership of the program, per the statement.

Foster just wrapped up his first year as Northwestern’s head coach after coaching Army from 2017-22.

The team went 10-40 this season after Foster had a 162-140 stint with Army, including four NCAA Regional appearances.

Nine players reportedly shared with 670 The Score the information, which included an investigation conducted by the university. However, the administration allegedly did not speak to players during the process.

An HR report was filed in November 2022 and concluded in February 2023 with two assistant coaches and the program’s director of operations stepping down.

In addition to alleged inappropriate comments to a female staffer, Foster allegedly made racist remarks and encouraged players not to seek treatment for injury.

According to the report, one player was forced to engage in a “punishment run,” which lasted for nearly an entire two-and-a-half hour practice.

The report claimed 15 players transferred solely because of Foster and when the coach left Army last summer, there was allegedly a Zoom celebration and the school was thrilled he was gone.

In addition to the off-the-field reports, the hiring process was unusual. Athletic Director Derrick Gragg and Deputy Director of Athletics Monique Holland allegedly passed off the hiring process to two Northwestern boosters, who sat in on the final interviews.

The boosters reportedly used to play for former head coach Ron Wellman and said a disciplinarian like Foster would help Northwestern overachieve and have success on the baseball field.