Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald out amid hazing scandal

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Northwestern parted ways with head football coach Pat Fitzgerald on Monday amid accusations of incessant hazing among players in the program under his leadership and that he allegedly didn’t do anything to stop it.

Despite current players writing a letter in support of Fitzgerald – who had been the Wildcats’ head coach since the 2006 season and is one of the best football players to have ever played in the program – the university decided to split with him.

The Athletic and ESPN first reported the recent development.

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Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald talks to reporters at Lucas Oil Stadium, July 26, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo / Darron Cummings / File)

The school later announced the decision. University president Michael Schill explained in a letter to the community the decision.

"The decision comes after a difficult and complex evaluation of my original discipline decision imposed last week on Coach Fitzgerald for his failure to know and prevent significant hazing in the football program," the letter read. "Over the last 72 hours, I have spent a great deal of time in thought and in discussions with people who love our University — the Chair and members of our Board of Trustees, faculty leadership, students, alumni and Coach Fitzgerald himself. 

"I have also received many phone calls, text messages and emails from those I know, and those I don’t, sharing their thoughts. While I am appreciative of the feedback and considered it in my decision-making, ultimately, the decision to originally suspend Coach Fitzgerald was mine and mine alone, as is the decision to part ways