Northwestern fires football coach Pat Fitzgerald amid hazing claim

Northwestern University fired head football coach Pat Fitzgerald on July 11, 2023, amid hazing claims within the program. The school said in a statement that it had "lost confidence" in Fitzgerald's ability to lead the program after an investigation into the hazing allegations.

The investigation, led by former Illinois inspector general Maggie Hickey, found "evidence to corroborate claims made by an anonymous whistleblower regarding hazing activities and events." The allegations included forcing players to drink alcohol, engage in physical activities, and perform "demeaning" acts.

Fitzgerald denied knowing about the hazing incidents, but the school said that his "failure to take steps to prevent or address the hazing" was a "serious breach of his responsibilities."

Fitzgerald had been the head coach at Northwestern since 2006, and he led the Wildcats to a Big Ten championship in 2018. He is the winningest coach in Northwestern football history.

The firing of Fitzgerald is the latest in a series of high-profile hazing scandals in college sports. In recent years, there have been hazing allegations at schools such as Penn State, Ohio State, and Baylor.

The hazing allegations at Northwestern have also raised questions about the culture of the football program. In a statement, Northwestern said that it is "committed to creating a culture of accountability and respect" in the football program.

The school said that it will be conducting a "full review" of the program and that it will "take all necessary steps to ensure that the program is in compliance with all university policies and procedures."

The school said that it will be conducting a "full review" of the program and that it will "take all necessary steps to ensure that the program is in compliance with all university policies and procedures."