Northwestern University on Monday fired Pat Fitzgerald, its longtime head football coach, after an investigation found that his players had participated in widespread hazing, including forced nudity and sexualized acts.
His firing came three days after the university said that Fitzgerald, who had been head coach of the Wildcats since 2006, would be suspended for two weeks without pay after the investigation found the hazing allegations to be credible.
Michael Schill, the president of Northwestern, said in a statement that the decision to fire Fitzgerald, 48, came “after a difficult and complex evaluation” of his earlier discipline and after discussions with the board of trustees, students, alumni and Fitzgerald.
“The decision to originally suspend Coach Fitzgerald was mine and mine alone, as is the decision to part ways with him,” Schill said.
Persons:
Pat Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Michael Schill, “, ” Schill
Organizations:
Northwestern University, Monday, Wildcats, Northwestern