An investigation was launched in December 2022 after Northwestern University received an anonymous complaint about hazing activities in the school’s football program.
Pat Fitzgerald has been relieved as head coach of the Northwestern University football team following an investigation into hazing allegations. Though the university said there was no «sufficient» evidence that coaches knew about the misconduct, its president said Fitzgerald «should have known.»
University President Michael Schill initially issued Fitzgerald a two-week suspension without pay on Friday after reviewing the investigation’s executive summary. «However,» Schill said in a letter to the community on Saturday, «upon reflection, I believe I may have erred in weighing the appropriate sanction for Coach Fitzgerald.»
Schill published another letter on Monday announcing that he decided to part ways with Fitzgerald after spending the weekend deep in thought and in discussions with university leaders, students, alumni and Fitzgerald himself.
While Schill was weighing his options, the university’s student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, published an article detailing a former player’s experience with hazing within the program. A second player confirmed the details of the hazing incidents.
«The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team. The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening,» Schill wrote.
