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Pat Fitzgerald was Northwestern’s head coach for 17 seasons.
CNN –
Former Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing the school and its president for at least $130 million, arguing, among other things, that he was wrongfully fired in July after allegations of hazing within the Wildcats football program became.
“We are bringing various charges against Northwestern and (University President Michael) Schill, including breach of contract on two separate contracts, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and claims for punitive damages, to punish Northwestern and President Schill for the wrongs they have committed.” imposed on Mr. Fitzgerald and his family as a result of the events set forth in the lawsuit,” Fitzgerald’s attorney, Dan Webb, said in a news conference Thursday.
Webb said they would seek “out-of-pocket economic damages” of about $130 million.
Fitzgerald’s firing followed an independent investigation into hazing allegations by a former Illinois inspector general. The investigation began in December after an anonymous email address sent a complaint at the end of the 2022 season, according to a summary of the investigation released by Northwestern.
The investigation found that hazing within the program was ongoing for 11 former and current players, Schill said in a July letter to the Northwestern community.
However, Schill added in the letter that the investigator “found no credible evidence that Coach Fitzgerald himself knew about it,” and Fitzgerald denied any knowledge of hazing in the program.
Fitzgerald was initially suspended for two weeks before being fired.
Webb said Fitzgerald and the university had an oral contract before the suspension was announced that said no further disciplinary action would be taken against the coach. Webb alleged that Fitzgerald, who was not present at the press conference, was wrongfully fired two to three days after Northwestern announced the suspension.
“Fitzgerald made the decision to enter into this oral contract with Northwestern to enable Northwestern to overcome the hazing allegations. “Northwestern promised Fitzgerald that if he agreed to Northwestern’s proposed oral contract, the entire matter would be resolved and Fitzgerald would not face any further consequences,” the lawsuit states.
In a statement to CNN on Thursday, Northwestern University spokesman Jon Yates said the six-month independent investigation “found beyond doubt that hazing – which included nudity and sexualized acts – occurred under Fitzgerald’s watch.”
“As head coach of the football program for 17 years, Patrick Fitzgerald was responsible for running the program. He had a responsibility to know that hazing was happening and to stop it. He did not do this,” the statement said. “Numerous former student-athletes have filed lawsuits against Fitzgerald and the university related to harassment they suffered during their time on Fitzgerald’s team.”
“The safety of our students remains our top priority and we deeply regret that student-athletes were subjected to harassment,” the statement continued. “We remain confident that the university acted appropriately in terminating Fitzgerald, and we will vigorously defend our position in court.”
The former coach’s lawsuit also states that Fitzgerald and his family “experienced tremendous emotional distress” when they realized that Fitzgerald “would never again be able to obtain a similar head coaching position with significant compensation.” . This emotional stress will undoubtedly last for years.”
At the news conference, Webb said the school “destroyed Fitzgerald’s reputation as one of the best football coaches in America without legitimate reasons or evidence.”
“It is despicable behavior on behalf of Northwestern, and my client and his family are entitled to see justice served in court, and that is why we have filed this lawsuit,” he said.
Steve Levin, an attorney who represents dozens of former football players who are filing hazing lawsuits against Fitzgerald, told reporters Thursday that his clients “will not be intimidated” by Fitzgerald’s lawsuit against the school.
“It’s so incredibly ironic – I would say it’s the first time in history that someone has filed a completely baseless $130 million lawsuit on behalf of a coach who claims the football players are opportunists.” , Levin said, adding, “The first opportunity they got, they were all about the money.”
Levin claimed Thursday that Webb, the former coach’s attorney, never spoke to the victims but called them “opportunistic liars,” implying they were after money.
“Why would someone (Webb) behave like that? The only thing I can think of is intimidation – for the people who came forward, for the people who might come forward – he created fear,” Levin said.
CNN has reached out to Northwestern University and Webb for comment.
Levin described his clients as courageous and said he hoped Fitzgerald’s lawsuit would motivate them.