Northwestern fires football coach Pat Fitzgerald amid hazing allegations

Northwestern has fired head soccer coach Pat Fitzgerald amid allegations of hazing, sexual harassment and assault, in addition to racism within the Northwestern soccer program.

Fitzgerald was initially suspended for 2 weeks after an investigation led by an exterior legislation agency concluded that he didn’t know in regards to the hazing allegations, however didn’t do sufficient to try to cease them.

Nevertheless, after reporting accomplished by the Every day Northwestern which included particulars from a former participant who went to the college with the allegations of hazing.

On Monday, the Every day Northwestern reported that three former gamers accused Fitzgerald and the Northwestern soccer program of racism, together with forcing Black gamers to chop their dreadlocks as part of the “Northwestern Means”.

Northwestern president Michael Schill launched a letter to the Northwestern group after the allegations got here ahead that evening, saying that he can be assembly with the Board of Trustees, College Senate and others within the coming days.

Schill launched a letter in regards to the firing of Fitzgerald, wherein he went into element right here. “Since Friday, I’ve stored going again to what we must always moderately anticipate from our head coaches, our college and our campus leaders,” Schill stated. “And that’s what led me to make this resolution. The top coach is in the end accountable for the tradition of his crew. The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret inside the program, offering Coach Fitzgerald with the chance to be taught what was taking place. Both manner, the tradition in Northwestern Soccer, whereas unimaginable in some methods, was damaged in others.”

Schill stated that athletic director Derrick Gragg will announce the brand new management for the crew “within the days forward”, however didn’t give a particular date as to when the brand new head coach can be introduced.