Why was Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald fired by Northwestern?
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Pat Fitzgerald was officially hired as Michigan State football coach on Monday, Dec. 1, following three seasons away from college football.
Fitzgerald spent 17 seasons (2006-22) as coach at Northwestern, his alma mater, following a playing career in which he was a two-time All-Big Ten linebacker. His time in Evanston, Illinois, ended with him as the Wildcats’ winningest coach and a total of 110 victories, more than twice any other Northwestern coach.
Why was Pat Fitzgerald fired at Northwestern?
Fitzgerald, then 48, was initially suspended as part of an July 2023 announcement by Northwestern that an outside investigation − which was conducted by an independent attorney, Maggie Hickey, and law firm ArentFox Schiff − had substantiated allegations of hazing within the Wildcats’ football program. It was not until the next day, however, that the sexual nature of the allegations came to light in a story published by the university’s student newspaper.
Two days after that, Northwestern moved to fire Fitzgerald for cause, acknowledging in a statement announcing the move that the hazing “included forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature.”
What happened after Pat Fitzgerald was fired?
Fitzgerald filed a $130 million lawsuit against the university and its president in October 2023, alleging he was wrongfully fired earlier in the year. He claimed Northwestern breached both his original employment contract and a subsequent “oral contract” the two sides agreed to in July 2023. That case was due to go to trial Nov. 3.
Nearly two years later, Fitzgerald said on Thursday, Aug. 21, a settlement was reached. The two sides have not disclosed the terms of the settlement. Fitzgerald had $68 million in remaining salary on his contract, which ran through March 31, 2031.
Did Pat Fitzgerald know about hazing at Northwestern?
In a statement released through his lawyers announcing the settlement, Fitzgerald said he had no knowledge of hazing in the football program prior to his suspension.
“For the past two years, I have engaged in a process of extensive fact and expert discovery, which showed what I have known and said all along − that I had no knowledge of hazing ever occurring in the Northwestern football program, and that I never directed or encouraged hazing in any way.
“Through discovery, I learned that some hazing did occur in the football program at Northwestern. I am extremely disappointed that members of the team engaged in this behavior and that no one reported it to me, so that I could have alerted Northwestern’s Athletic Department and administrators, stopped the inappropriate behavior, and taken every necessary step to protect Northwestern’s student athletes,” Fitzgerald said.
The former coach added “the rush to judgment” about him knowing about the hazing caused him and his family “great stress, embarrassment, and reputational harm in the last two years.”
“Though I maintain Northwestern had no legal basis to terminate my employment for cause under the terms of my Employment Agreement, in the interest of resolving this matter and, in particular, to relieve my family from the stress of ongoing litigation, Northwestern and I have agreed to a settlement, and I am satisfied with the terms of the settlement,” Fitzgerald said.
What did Northwestern say about Pat Fitzgerald?
Northwestern said in an August 2025 statement to USA TODAY Sports that evidence uncovered did not establish any player reported hazing to Fitzgerald or he condoned any actions and he was “incredibly upset and saddened” when he learned of the alleged details. It added it has taken action to ensure hazing “will not occur again.”
“Northwestern appreciates Coach Fitzgerald’s 26 years as a Northwestern player and coach. Northwestern is proud of Coach Fitzgerald’s team’s success on the field as well as its success in the classroom,” the statement read. “Northwestern wishes Coach Fitzgerald the best in resuming his football career.”
The settlement of Fitzgerald’s lawsuit comes three months after the university settled the 34 remaining lawsuits filed against it by former football players. The former players alleged that incidents of hazing took place during their time on the team and members of the coaching staff, including Fitzgerald, knew about them.
What has Pat Fitzgerald done since being fired by Northwestern?
Fitzgerald hasn’t coached college football since his firing, instead serving a parent volunteer for the football program at Loyola Academy high school in Illinois where his two sons attended.
Contributing: Tom Schad
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why was Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald fired by Northwestern?
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