Pat Fitzgerald's firing from Northwestern and move to Michigan State explained

Pat Fitzgerald was fired as Northwestern's head coach in July 2023 after an investigation into widespread hazing within the football program, ending a 17-year tenure in which he compiled a program-record 110 wins. The hazing allegations, which included coerced sexual acts detailed by former players to the school's student newspaper, prompted former university president Michael Schill to hold Fitzgerald accountable for the program's culture, even though the initial investigation found insufficient evidence that he or his staff had direct knowledge of the conduct. Fitzgerald subsequently sued Northwestern for wrongful termination, and the two sides reached a settlement in August 2025; according to the university, discovery evidence did not establish that any player had reported hazing to Fitzgerald, and the school stated he did not condone or direct any of the alleged conduct. Approximately three months after the settlement, Fitzgerald was hired as head coach at Michigan State, where he is now six games into his first season with the Spartans.

The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team. The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening.

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