Ex-Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald sues university for wrongful termination due to hazing scandal

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Former Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the university and its president, Michael Schill, Thursday. 

Fitzgerald is seeking more than $130 million for reputational and punitive damages and lost earnings from his firing after a two-week suspension following a hazing investigation into his program. The amount includes the $68 million that was still on his contract and $62 million in future earnings losses. Fitzgerald alleges Northwestern unlawfully fired him for cause July 10. 

Northwestern commissioned attorney Maggie Hickey to lead an investigation into hazing claims from a former player. 

Hickey found the claims were corroborated, though there was insufficient evidence that Fitzgerald, along with his coaching staff, had knowledge of the incidents. 

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Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald during a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker/USA Today Sports)

"The fact that he was terminated based on no rational reasons or facts whatsoever, the fact that they've gone out and destroyed his reputation as one of the best football coaches in America, based on no legitimate reason or evidence, is disgraceful," said Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Fitzgerald’s attorney in the lawsuit, per ESPN. 

"It's despicable conduct on behalf of Northwestern. My client and his family are entitled to their day in court for justice."

Webb added that Fitzgerald and Northwestern reached an "oral agreement" he would face no further discipline beyond his two-week suspension