Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern settle lawsuit over firing from hazing allegations
Fitzgerald, who led the Wildcats from 2006-22 and is the team's longest tenured and most-winning coach, filed a $130 million lawsuit against the university and its president in October 2023, alleging he was wrongfully fired earlier in the year. He claimed Northwestern breached both his original employment contract and a subsequent "oral contract" the two sides agreed to in July 2023. That case was due to go to trial Nov. 3.
Nearly two years later, Fitzgerald said on Thursday, Aug. 21 a settlement was reached. The two sides are not disclosing the terms of the settlement.
In a statement released through his lawyers announcing the settlement, Fitzgerald said he had no knowledge of hazing in the football program prior to his suspension, when an outside investigation substantiated the allegations. The next day, the university's student newspaper reported the sexual nature of the allegations. Two days after the story, Northwestern moved to fire Fitzgerald for cause, acknowledging in a statement hazing "included forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature."
"For the past two years, I have engaged in a process of extensive fact and expert discovery, which showed what I have known and said all along − that I had no knowledge of hazing ever occurring in the Northwestern football program, and that I never directed or encouraged hazing in any way.
"Through discovery, I learned that some hazing did occur in the football program at Northwestern. I am extremely disappointed that members of the team engaged in this behavior and that no one reported it to me, so that I could have alerted Northwestern's Athletic Department and administrators, stopped the inappropriate behavior, and taken every necessary step to protect Northwestern's student athletes," Fitzgerald said.
The former coach added "the rush to judgment" about him knowing about the hazing caused him and his family "great stress, embarrassment, and reputational harm in the last two years."
"Though I maintain Northwestern had no legal basis to terminate my employment for cause under the terms of my Employment Agreement, in the interest of resolving this matter and, in particular, to relieve my family from the stress of ongoing litigation, Northwestern and I have agreed to a settlement, and I am satisfied with the terms of the settlement," Fitzgerald said.
Northwestern said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports evidence uncovered did not establish any player reported hazing to Fitzgerald or he condoned any actions and he was "incredibly upset and saddened" when he learned of the alleged details. It added it has taken action to ensure hazing "will not occur again."
"Northwestern appreciates Coach Fitzgerald's 26 years as a Northwestern player and coach. Northwestern is proud of Coach Fitzgerald's team's success on the field as well as its success in the classroom," the statement read. "Northwestern wishes Coach Fitzgerald the best in resuming his football career."
The settlement of Fitzgerald's lawsuit comes three months after the university settled the 34 remaining lawsuits filed against it by former football players. The former players alleged that incidents of hazing took place during their time on the team and members of the coaching staff, including Fitzgerald, knew about them.
Fitzgerald hasn't coached college football since his firing, instead serving a parent volunteer for the football program at Loyola Academy high school in Illinois where his two sons attended.
Contributing: Tom Schad
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