EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) — Northwestern has named defensive coordinator David Braun as acting head football coach for the Wildcats as clashes continue following allegations of intimidation within the program.
On Monday night, Northwestern University fired Pat Fitzgerald, who had been the head coach since 2006, effective immediately, citing widespread harassment within the football program.
He was in the second year of his 10-year, $57 million contract and has hired a high-profile attorney while defending his 17-year tenure at the helm of a team he himself played for.
READ MORE: Ex-Northwestern player says coach Pat Fitzgerald ‘failed’ because he didn’t stop bullying
Fitzgerald was initially suspended for two weeks without pay, but Michael Schill, president of Northwestern University, then said: “may have been wrong” in the coach’s sanction.
But Northwestern will retain its assistant football coaches and supervisors for the 2023 season, the school said.
During the course of the bullying investigation, nearly a dozen Wildcat football players said the problem was “systematic and went back many years” and involved “forced participation, nudity, and sexualized acts of a degrading nature.”
A former player, who asked only to be called “Ramón,” recounted a particularly crude dressing-room bullying ritual known as the “car wash.”
“The idea was exactly what you would imagine a car wash to be. One was clean.
He told ABC7 Chicago about the therapy he’s had to seek since leaving Northwestern.
“[Fitzgerald has been]involved with the program for more than two decades, and so if the car wash was when I was there and the car wash was just last season, I find it a bit egregious that he, ‘As the head of an institution like Northwestern, you wouldn’t know this was happening,” said another former player.
The second player, who declined to reveal his name, said he experienced harassment, racist micro-aggression and intimidation from both players and coaches.
“When positional trainers witness these things and don’t say anything, they somehow allow other positional trainers to make it seem like it’s okay to use this type of coaching methodology and practices. So that’s my opinion.” By and large, it’s all just the responsibility of the coaches,” he said. “There were times when I felt so small in this program, although now I know that’s not the case, but when you’re constantly being verbally abused, you kind of get crushed.”
Reactions continued Tuesday after Fitzgerald’s firing.
A group of faculty members speak out, urging university officials to shelve their $800 million plans to renovate and expand Ryan Field.
“I think on the condition that the athletics department gets a complete overhaul, we can go ahead with that. It’s tidy Would we expand it?” said Northwest Professor Elizabeth Shakman Hurd.
With Northwestern’s baseball coach now also under fire for allegedly creating an abusive environment within that program and the team at risk of not filling the roster next year, Shakman Hurd said the entire athletics department needed a review.
“Pupil safety comes first, then comes playing and winning the games that we hope to do. But if our students are being abused, what’s the point?” said Shakman Hurd.
Fitzgerald is hitting back after previously denying he had any knowledge of the bullying incidents, which were detailed in a six-month independent investigation released Friday.
Fitzgerald released a statement Tuesday morning that said:
“I have had the privilege of serving as the head football coach at Northwestern University for the past 17 years. As a former Wildcat player involved in the remarkable transformation of our program, it was a great honor to have the opportunity to lead the team. I am very proud of the achievements we have achieved on and off the field during my tenure. I am wholeheartedly dedicated to the advancement of our players, not just as athletes, but also as exemplary students and community members. Our program has shaped us young men with the qualities to become outstanding husbands, fathers and valuable contributors to society. Our players were well prepared to make a positive impact on the world and I am confident in the success we have achieved together. The overwhelming majority of the players we’ve coached – 99% to be exact – have given positive feedback that validates our efforts.
“Attorney Maggie Hickey spent several months conducting a thorough investigation into the allegations leading to my termination. Your investigation confirmed what I have always claimed – that I was not aware of any form of harassment within the Northwestern Football Program.
“Last Friday, following Ms. Hickey’s thorough investigation, Northwestern and I reached an agreement on a resolution. That agreement provided for a two-week suspension. So I was surprised to learn that Northwestern’s President unilaterally resigned.” Without notice, I rescinded our agreement and subsequently resigned from my employment.
“In light of this unexpected turn of events, I have authorized my agent, Bryan Harlan, and my legal counsel, Dan Webb of Winston & Strawn LLP, to take the necessary steps to protect my rights consistent with the law.”
ESPN contributed to this report.