Jim Phillips addresses Northwestern hazing scandal during 2023 ACC Football Kickoff

ACC Commissioner and former longtime Northwestern Athletics Director Jim Phillips was named in a lawsuit regarding hazing allegations last week.

The lawsuits allege that leaders at Northwestern, including Phillips, were negligent in allowing hazing inside the team’s football locker room.

Already as a result of the hazing scandal, the University has fired longtime football head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Phillips issued a statement last week, stating in part that “any allegation that I ever condoned or tolerated inappropriate conduct against student-athletes is absolutely false.”

On Tuesday at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, he addressed the lawsuit during his opening remarks.

“Before I close, and unrelated to the ACC, I do want to briefly address the ongoing matter at Northwestern, as I’m sure some of you have questions. As you are aware, I released a statement last week. This is a very difficult time for the Northwestern community. And my heart goes out to any person who carries the burden of mistreatment, or who has been harmed in any way,” Phillips said. “During my 30-year career in college athletics, my highest priority has always been the healthy and safety of all student-athletes. As you know, with this matter in litigation, I’m unable to share anything more at this time. I’m happy to address your questions about the ACC and ACC football, so let me turn it over to Amy [Yakola] and we’ll get started.”

Phillips served as the athletic director at Northwestern from 2008-21 after serving in the same role at Northern Illinois. He was a candidate for the Big Ten commissioner job that eventually went to Kevin Warren and took over the ACC in 2021. After again emerging as a possible candidate to replace Warren, the ACC gave Phillips a contract extension to keep him with the league through the end of the decade.

Phillips was listed as a defendant in a lawsuit against the university last Wednesday, along with Athletics Director Derrick Gragg, current president Michael Schill, former president Morton Schapiro, former football coach Pat Fitzgerald and the university’s board of trustees.

That lawsuit is the second one filed against the university in light of a hazing scandal within the football program and allegations of a toxic environment within the baseball program.

“The lawsuit also lists the university, its board of trustees and former president Morton Schapiro as defendants,” a report from ESPN read. “The player filed anonymously, but the lawsuit says he was a member of the team from 2018 through 2022.

“His attorneys, Patrick Salvi and Parker Stinar, said they have spoken to other former Northwestern players and expect additional football players and Northwestern athletes from other sports to join the lawsuit in the coming days and weeks.”