Northwestern and former coach Pat Fitzgerald settled a lawsuit filed after his July 2023 dismissal; terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Fitzgerald had sued for $130 million for wrongful termination after his firing amid hazing allegations that the university president described as "widespread and clearly not a secret." Fitzgerald said extensive fact and expert discovery showed he had no knowledge of hazing in the program and that he never directed or encouraged hazing. He acknowledged that hazing occurred, expressed pride in running a world-class program, and said he was disappointed players did not report the behavior. Northwestern stated discovery did not establish that any player reported hazing to Fitzgerald or that he condoned or directed hazing, and that he was upset and saddened when presented with details of the conduct.
"While the litigation brought to light highly inappropriate conduct in the football program and the harm it caused, the evidence uncovered during extensive discovery did not establish that any player reported hazing to Coach Fitzgerald or that Coach Fitzgerald condoned or directed any hazing," the statement read. "Moreover, when presented with the details of the conduct, he was incredibly upset and saddened by the negative impact this conduct had on players within the program."
"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." Fitzgerald acknowledged in the statement that there was hazing in the program, but added that he's "proud to say I ran a world-class football program" while at Northwestern.
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