Pat Fitzgerald hires legal counsel after Northwestern dismissal

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Former Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald wrote he retained legal counsel after he was relived from his position on Monday night following a hazing scandal that has engulfed the program.

Fitzgerald was initially suspended for two weeks as Northwestern officials gathered more information about the alleged hazing that occurred. Investigators did not find "sufficient" evidence that the coaching staff knew about the ongoing hazing, but there were "significant opportunities" to find out about it. 

However, as more details surfaced about the alleged hazing that took place and racism allegations that surfaced earlier Monday, the university announced Fitzgerald’s dismissal. 

Fitzgerald said university president Michael Schill did not notify him of his termination.

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Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats team before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)

"Last Friday, Northwestern and I came to a mutual agreement regarding the appropriate resolution following the thorough investigation conducted by (attorney Maggie Hickey)," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "This agreement stipulated a two-week suspension. Therefore, I was surprised when I learned that the president of Northwestern unilaterally revoked our agreement without any prior notification and subsequently terminated my employment.

"Given this unexpected turn of events, I have entrusted my agent, Bryan Harlan, and legal counsel Dan Webb from Winston & Strawn LLP, to take the necessary steps to protect my rights in accordance with the law."

Schill wrote a