Northwestern and former soccer coach Pat Fitzgerald have settled a lawsuit, which was filed by Fitzgerald after his dismissal from the varsity two years in the past. Phrases of the settlement weren’t disclosed.
Fitzgerald sued the varsity for $130 million for wrongful termination after being fired in July 2023. His firing got here amid allegations of hazing in this system, which president Michael Schill on the time known as “widespread and clearly not a secret.”
Fitzgerald mentioned in a press release Thursday: “For the previous two years, I’ve engaged in a course of of in depth truth and professional discovery, which confirmed what I’ve recognized and mentioned all alongside — that I had no data of hazing ever occurring within the Northwestern soccer program and that I by no means directed or inspired hazing in any means.”
Fitzgerald acknowledged within the assertion that there was hazing in this system however added that he’s “proud to say I ran a world-class soccer program” whereas at Northwestern.
“I’m extraordinarily disenchanted that members of the workforce engaged on this conduct and that nobody reported it to me,” he mentioned, “in order that I may have alerted Northwestern’s Athletic Division and directors, stopped the inappropriate conduct, and brought each vital step to guard Northwestern’s scholar athletes.”
In a press release launched Thursday, Northwestern mentioned Fitzgerald didn’t condone or direct any of the alleged hazing.
“Whereas the litigation delivered to mild extremely inappropriate conduct within the soccer program and the hurt it precipitated, the proof uncovered throughout in depth discovery didn’t set up that any participant reported hazing to Coach Fitzgerald or that Coach Fitzgerald condoned or directed any hazing,” the assertion learn. “Furthermore, when introduced with the main points of the conduct, he was extremely upset and saddened by the unfavourable affect this conduct had on gamers inside the program.”
Schill isn’t allowed to touch upon Thursday’s settlement as a result of he was a named defendant in Fitzgerald’s lawsuit and didn’t take part within the settlement course of.
Fitzgerald’s firing marked a big second for Northwestern athletics, as he had been one of the crucial transformative figures on the campus as each a participant and coach.
Fitzgerald coached there 17 seasons and went 110-101 over that point, making him by far the perfect coach in class historical past. He’s additionally probably the greatest gamers in class historical past, as he starred at linebacker.
“It was a prolonged course of, however we’re very, very glad with the phrases of the settlement,” mentioned Bryan Harlan of Excel Sports activities, who’s Fitzgerald’s agent.
“We expect the proof is overwhelming that Northwestern had no foundation in any way to terminate my consumer for trigger,” Dan Webb, lead legal professional for Fitzgerald, informed ESPN. “That was the power of our case.”
The case was set to go to trial in November. Fitzgerald’s dismissal got here after a college investigation discovered hazing in this system however no data that Fitzgerald knew of it. He was dismissed days after it was introduced he was going to be suspended for 2 weeks.
“The frenzy to judgment within the media in July of 2023 and the studies that instructed I knew about and directed hazing are false and have precipitated me, my spouse, and my three sons nice stress, embarrassment, and reputational hurt within the final two years,” Fitzgerald mentioned. “Although I keep Northwestern had no authorized foundation to terminate my employment for trigger beneath the phrases of my Employment Settlement, within the curiosity of resolving this matter and, particularly, to alleviate my household from the stress of ongoing litigation, Northwestern and I’ve agreed to a settlement, and I’m glad with the phrases of the settlement.”
In Might, the varsity settled the 34 remaining lawsuits by former soccer gamers tied to the hazing allegations.
“Northwestern’s primary precedence is the well being and security of all members of its neighborhood, together with our scholar athletes,” the varsity added in its assertion Thursday. “The College has taken motion to make sure hazing won’t happen once more, together with new coaching and extra steps for suggestions and reporting.”
Fitzgerald’s solely formal soccer involvement the previous two seasons got here as a volunteer assistant coach at his sons’ highschool within the Chicago space.
“With this behind him now, a settlement, with no proof developed that he did something fallacious, I imagine primarily based on every part I’ve been informed that he ought to have some vital alternatives to return to a serious college or wherever he chooses to go,” Webb added. “One of many motivations on our half is to get [the settlement], so he may put it behind him and return to teaching, which is what I imagine that he’s going to do. The truth that there’s no proof that he knew about it, I don’t assume there will likely be a barrier to him getting an incredible job in teaching.”
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this story
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