Pat Fitzgerald is the most successful head coach in the history of Northwestern football. But it’s highly unlikely that he will be most remembered for the on-field success.
It was announced on Monday that Fitzgerald has been fired by the program after damning accusations of hazing and other issues.
Fitzgerald, 48, has been Northwestern’s head football coach since back in 2006, continually turning down NFL head coach opportunities in the process. This represents one of the most dramatic fall from graces in the modern history of the college football world.
New revelations came out regarding the culture of Northwestern football under Pat Fitzgerald this past weekend. To say that they are troubling would be an understatement. The allegations included a whistleblower’s claim of hazing carried out by members of the football team against teammates.
An internal investigation initially found that there wasn’t enough evidence to suggest that the coaching staff knew about the hazing. However, new allegations from former players indicate that many in the program were either complicit in allowing the hazing or actively encouraged it.
Pat Fitzgerald career coaching record: 110-101, four bowl wins
The Daily Northwestern spoke to several former Northwestern players who talked about the culture within the Wildcats’ football program under Fitzgerald. These former players described the “vile and inhumane” treatment that they witnessed or received, including alleged sexual misconduct.
Fitzgerald initially received a two-week suspension before the longtime head coach was fired. It was earlier on Monday that a story ran in which players revealed an environment that was packed with racism.
“Another player, who asked to remain anonymous and played through the 2009 season, said racism on the team was often blatant. He alleged head coach Pat Fitzgerald would ask Black players and coaches to cut off longer hairstyles — including dreadlocks — so that they were more in line with what Fitzgerald called the ‘Wildcat Way.'”
Report on Northwestern culture under Pat Fitzgerald
We will have more on this story as it develops.