Northwestern fires head football coach Pat Fitzgerald following hazing allegations

Northwestern University has fired head football coach Pat Fitzgerald following an investigation into alleged hazing allegations dating back decades. Fitzgerald was initially placed on a two-week unpaid suspension last Friday according to an investigation summary, before more allegations surfaced.

In an email sent to the Northwestern community on Monday, July 10, University President Michael Schill stated the decision to fire Fitzgerald came in response to his “failure to know and prevent significant hazing in the football program.”

According to Schill’s statement, an independent investigation into Northwestern’s football team uncovered alleged hazing involving forced nudity and sexual acts “of a degrading nature.” Eleven former student-athletes acknowledged the hazing incidents, some stating the abuse caused long-term harm to those involved.

The Daily Northwestern reported that an anonymous former player had disclosed details of the hazing, which involved a hazing ritual used to punish freshmen for mistakes made on the field.

Allegations of hazing amongst Northwestern’s football team first arose in November of 2022, with the University subsequently retaining Maggie Hickey, partner of law firm ArentFox Schiff, to conduct the investigation into the claims.

Schill noted in his email that the investigation failed to find conclusive evidence that Fitzgerald knew of the hazing rituals, but the abuse was widely known within the organization. 

Schill confirmed that Northwestern will announce new leadership for its upcoming football season in the coming days.

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