Northwestern University has suspended Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks following a months long investigation regarding hazing allegations within the program.
An outside investigation, which began last December and was overseen by former Illinois inspector general Maggie Hickey, uncovered evidence that verified the hazing claims made after the 2022 season.
After interviewing current and former players as well as coaches and staff, Hickey and her team concluded Northwestern coaches were culpable of inaction. Details of the investigation will remain private, however, the university has provided a summary. It reveals that, although coaches might not have known about any hazing incidents, there were instances where the coaching staff could have found and reported hazing.
Fitzgerald will immediately begin to serve his two-week suspension without pay.
In addition, Northwestern announced Friday that they will make several changes to their football program in order to prevent future hazing incidents. They include ending training camps in Kenosha, Wisconsin, hiring an independent monitor of the locker room as well as overhauling their anti-hazing reporting procedures and education programs.
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Fitzgerald, who starred for the program in the mid 90s as a player, is entering his 18th season as head coach.
“I was very disappointed when I heard about the allegations of hazing on our football team,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Although I was not aware of the alleged incidents, I have spoken to University officials, and they informed me of a two-week suspension, effective immediately.
“Northwestern football prides itself on producing not just athletes, but fine young men with character befitting the program and our University,” he said. “We hold our student-athletes and our program to the highest standards; we will continue to work to exceed those standards moving forward.”
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