Pat Fitzgerald suing Northwestern for $130M for wrongful termination - ESPN

CHICAGO — Former Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing the school for $130 million, saying his alma mater wrongfully fired him in the wake of a hazing and abuse scandal that has engulfed the athletic department.

The announcement by Chicago-based attorneys Dan K. Webb and Matthew R. Carter on Thursday comes nearly three months after Fitzgerald was suspended and then fired after 17 years.

Attorney Webb said that Fitzgerald would also be seeking additional money for «infliction of emotional distress,» future lost income and punitive damages.

«If there was ever a coach at Northwestern University who should have not been terminated, it's Coach Fitzgerald,» Webb said.

The 48-year-old Fitzgerald was suspended for two weeks on July 7 following an investigation by attorney Maggie Hickey of law firm ArentFox Schiff. That probe did not find «sufficient» evidence that the coaching staff knew about ongoing hazing, but concluded there were «significant opportunities» to find out about it.

Three days later, following the publication in the Daily Northwestern student newspaper of stories alleging both hazing and racism in the football program, the school changed its stance and fired Fitzgerald. President Michael Schill said at the time the hazing was «widespread» and not a secret within the program.

Northwestern is facing more than a dozen lawsuits across multiple sports with allegations including sexual abuse of players by teammates, as well as racist comments by coaches and race-based assaults. Baseball coach Jim Foster was fired July 13 amid allegations of a toxic culture that included bullying and abusive behavior.

Fitzgerald's dismissal capped a rapid fall from grace for someone who seemed entrenched at his