Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is seeking $130 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit against the university, his attorneys, Dan Webb and Matthew Carter, announced Thursday. Fitzgerald will also seek additional money for "infliction of emotional distress," future lost income and punitive damages. Northwestern fired Fitzgerald "for cause" in July amid widespread allegations of hazing that occurred within the Wildcats football program under his watch.
"If there was ever an athletic coach at Northwestern University that should not have been terminated, it's Coach Fitzgerald." said Webb on Thursday.
Fitzgerald was initially suspended by the university for two weeks without pay, but Northwestern revisited the decision and ultimately terminated his employment after two former players came forward with details of the alleged hazing activities in an interview with The Daily Northwestern. Several lawsuits have since been filed on behalf of former Wildcats players against Fitzgerald and the university.
Webb maintains that Northwestern fired Fitzgerald without sufficient evidence that he was knowledgeable of the alleged hazing activity.
Fitzgerald, 48, spent 17 seasons as Northwestern, making him one of the longest active-tenured coaches in the country before his dismissal. The Wildcats achieved an 110-101 record during his time with the program, though it struggled to find success in his final two years. Northwestern finished 3-9 in 2021 before winning just a single game during the 2022 season.
Northwestern is since off to a 2-3 start in 2023 with defensive coordinator David Braun serving as interim coach.
