Tag: Pat Fitzgerald

2023-2024 College Football Coaching Carousel

Texas A&M hires Duke’s Mike Elko as the coaching carousel continues to spin.

The end of the college football season is here and the coaching carousel is once again getting fired up. This season saw two early head coaching changes within the Big Ten to get an early jump on things, but more coaching changes are popping up as we close in on the end of another regular season around the nation.

We’ll keep track of all of the head coaching changes in our updated coaching carousel tracker to see what head coaches are out and who is replacing them. This will be updated daily as needed with the latest head coaching changes as jobs open up and are filled. As is so often the case in college football, one coaching vacancy being filled will lead to another opening popping up as a result.

As of Thursday, Dec. 8 there are 2 head coaching vacancies in college football, including 1 power conference job to fill. A total of 19 head coaching changes have been made this year.

Below is the updated chart for this year’s edition of the head coaching carousel in college football. After that is a bit more detail on each job opening, listed in alphabetical order.

Former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald sues school for $130m

Former Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing his former employer for $130 million

Former Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing his former employer and alma mater for $130 million. Fitzgerald, who was fired in July after a hazing scandal within the Northwestern program came to light filed the lawsuit on Thursday alongside his attorney Dan Webb.

The full lawsuit can be read here.

The lawsuit claims that Northwestern had breached Fitzgerald’s contract with the university as well as an additional “oral contract” that the two sides agreed to during the first day of the scandal.

On Thursday, Fitzgerald’s attorney Dan Webb held a news conference to discuss the lawsuit.

In the press conference, Webb accuses the university and its president, Michael Schill of firing Fitzgerald for cause with “no legitimate reason or evidence.” He also accuses both parties of destroying Fitzgerald’s reputation in the process.

On top of firing Fitzgerald without cause, Webb accuses the university of lying to Fitzgerald after a verbal agreement was made between the two sides that the long-time Wildcats head coach would not be further disciplined following his suspension. After originally being suspended on July 6, Fitzgerald was fired four days later on July 10.

Of the $130 million that Fitzgerald and his counsel are seeking, $68 million would be the remaining salary on his contract at the time of the firing. Additionally, they are suing for an additional $62 million due to Fitzgerald’s “lost ability to obtain similar employment”. There would be the possibility of additional restitution as well as they claim the firing was an “intentional inflection of emotional distress and defamation.”

To learn more about Fitzgerald’s lawsuit against Northwestern, we implore you to read USA TODAY’s Tom Schad’s report on the case.

Following the firing of Fitzgerald, Northwestern named first-year defensive coordinator David Braun as the interim head coach of the Wildcats football program. The Wildcats enter the first weekend of October with a 2-3 record.

What the experts are predicting: Notre Dame vs. Navy

Do you expected the one-sidedness of this rivalry to continue?

Notre Dame is facing longtime rival Navy in Ireland in Week 0 of the 2023 college football season. It only makes sense that we begin our series of football Saturdays with a matchup that goes back nearly a century with only one interruption. The people of the Emerald Isle will see this game on their turf for the third time, so they should know what to expect by now.

Let’s look at what some college football experts are predicting for this game:

Scout’s view: Ohio State’s newest commitment, transfer linebacker Nigel Glover

The Buckeyes got a very good depth piece #GoBucks

[autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] made an extremely late addition to their 2023 recruiting class with the commitment of in-state linebacker, [autotag]Nigel Glover[/autotag].

After initially signing with Northwestern out of Northmont High School in Clayton, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 210-pound linebacker entered the transfer portal after head coach [autotag]Pat Fitzgerald[/autotag] was fired amid hazing allegations inside the program.

What was Northwestern’s loss was Ohio State’s gain, as Glover joins Arvell Reese as the only other linebacker to enter the program this year. I took some time to review Glover’s senior season highlights and break down his skill set. Find out below what to expect from the Buckeyes’ newest player.

What’s the latest with Northwestern football and the hazing lawsuit?

Northwestern football faces uncertainty about the status of their football program.

A Wednesday press conference featuring several former Northwestern football players shed some light on the allegations of hazing and abuse within the Big Ten program. All of this is happening against the backdrop of Northwestern’s season opener at Rutgers on September 3.

It makes for a confusing and fluid situation as Northwestern navigates some difficult waters both on and off the field.

Wednesday’s press conference, featuring four former players, underscored allegations of a culture that not only allowed hazing but also potentially encouraged it. Flanked by their legal representation, the claims of the players come a little over a week after Northwestern fired head coach [autotag]Pat Fitzgerald.[/autotag]

Northwestern is currently launching two investigations into the culture surrounding athletics on campus.

In a letter to the members of the faculty and staff at Northwestern, university president Michael Schill wrote in part:

“As you are no doubt aware, over the past 10 days, the University terminated the employment of Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald and relieved Head Baseball Coach Jim Foster of his duties. These actions followed investigations into hazing among our student-athletes in football and the bullying of assistant coaches in baseball. This situation is still unfolding, but the University already faces litigation related to these actions. Therefore, I hope you will understand that I am restricted in discussing specifics of these matters. I also am very concerned — as I am sure you all are — about protecting the confidentiality and rights of our students.

I write to you today to give you my commitment that I will continue to do whatever is necessary to address this situation and ensure that our athletic program remains one you can be proud of and one that is fully aligned with and reflects our values. Equally important, I give you my commitment that we will redouble our efforts to safeguard the welfare of each and every student-athlete at Northwestern.”

Northwestern has named [autotag]David Braun[/autotag] as interim head football coach, a not insignificant step. Braun joined Northwestern as the team’s new defensive coordinator in January, meaning that he was not a part of the staff during the timeline of the investigation.

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Besides Fitzgerald, no other member of the football coaching staff has been fired.

The status of these investigations and their subsuqent fallout is certainly of importance to the Big Ten at large. And while certainly not as significant as the issues at hand, there is also the sporting issue to be considered too. The impact on the football program, including potentially players entering the transfer portal, is also something that affects Rutgers as they gameplan for their opponent.

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Steven Levin, who is serving as co-counsel for the four former players, was part of Wendesday’s press conference. He too underscored the seriousness of these claims and allegations against the school.

“These former Northwestern football players are participating in this legal action because they believe that more stringent oversight and accountability are required in college athletics to prevent such abuses from happening to other players in the future,” Levin said. “The physical, emotional and sexual abuse not only violated Northwestern’s own policies, but also numerous laws, and worse, has led to irreparable harm, with some players even experiencing suicidal thoughts.”

When asked at the press conference if the football program’s proposed $800 million facelift of their facility and stadium should be halted in light of the legal issues at play, Levin said that question is “above my paygrade.”

The September 3 game between Rutgers and Northwestern is the season opener for both Big Ten programs.

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Big Ten analyst Joshua Perry on Northwestern football: ‘I don’t have very high expectations’

Joshua Perry sees an uphill battle this year for Northwestern football.

Former Ohio State football defensive linebacker Joshua Perry believes that there is a lot of healing that needs to go on at Northwestern following the program’s recent hazing scandal. And that healing process needs to begin now, with the season opener at Rutgers football now six weeks away.

Northwestern, still reeling from last week’s dismissal of head coach Pat Fitzgerald, has an almost impossible task in Perry’s eyes to get on track and pull the team together. Recent allegations of hazing led to the firing of Fitzgerald, the long-time head coach who led the Wildcats to 10 bowl games in his 17 years with the program.

Perry said that David Braun, hired in January as Northwestern’s defensive coordinator and now the interim head coach, must pull this team together. The process must start, Perry said, by regaining the trust of the team.

Perry, appearing on the ‘Tim May Show,’ was uncertain how Northwestern can get past this and be looking forward to Rutgers.

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“I have no idea. Honestly, like this is not something that I think is in any of the handbooks or manuals on how to build a team during training camp,” Perry told May.

“I think he needs to have conversations with everybody, one on one, and I think he needs to see where they’re all at. in that conversation, I think should also have a – if you feel like you were a victim of any of these things, and you have unresolved feelings about it, we have resources through our athletic department to help with that. That part of the conversation should be (that) you came here for a reason that was bigger than football.”

Braun will have to hit the ground running to get his team together. Brought into the Big Ten program in January, Braun was the defensive coordinator at North Dakota State. Considered a bright, rising name in the coaching ranks, Braun’s first job as a head coach comes right now as he looks to stabilize a program in crisis.

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Perry says that not only will Braun have to navigate these unusual circumstances, but he also will need to find leadership within the program that isn’t tainted by the hazing scandal.

“And I think that the leadership on that team needs to be examined because the guy who’s trying to the guy who’s trying to lead the team as – the player who’s trying to lead the team through this can’t be the same player that was over there doing the car wash in the shower, right? Like they can’t do be the same guy. There’s no way that can happen,” Perry said.

“Or else you fired your head coach, and then all of a sudden, you still got the same guy in the locker room who was the ringleader? That doesn’t make very much sense to me. And so I think there’s a lot of honesty that needs to happen. A lot of honest conversation and a lot of looking in the mirror and just face to face and it’s going to – I think it’s going to be a long process.

“I mean, I don’t I don’t have very high expectations for this football team. But I think this season is more than just about football for these guys. I think it’s truly about rebuilding a culture and the community within that team.”

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College 12-Pack podcast looks at the Northwestern fallout and more

USC joins the #B1G in 2024, so it’s worth listening to what @PatrickConnCFB and @TylerNettuno have to say about Northwestern.

Northwestern isn’t a USC competitor right now, but it will be in one year when the Trojans join the Big Ten. NU is more of a concern for USC fans than it ever was in the past (except for the 1996 Rose Bowl).

On the latest College 12-Pack podcast, Patrick Conn and Tyler Nettuno talk about the mess at Northwestern. There’s a lot to unpack about the situation. The College 12-Pack is the place to get a fuller national look at this complicated drama.

Earlier in the week, we wrote about the departure of football coach Pat Fitzgerald from Northwestern:

“USC versus Northwestern was not likely to be a top-tier showcase in the Trojans’ first season of Big Ten football, but Pat Fitzgerald has established a reputation as a quality defensive coach. Riley versus Fitzgerald — when USC had the ball — was shaping up as a fascinating contrast of styles and an intriguing 2024 chess match. However, after Northwestern fired Fitzgerald on Monday following investigations into allegiations of hazing and other significant problems within the NU program, Riley doesn’t know who will be coaching the Wildcats in 2024.”

We talked about the Northwestern coaching search here.

The College 12-Pack podcast also offered a preview of the ACC football season. Patrick and Tyler added a separate segment on the recent 2023 MLB draft. There’s a lot to talk about on the new College 12-Pack podcast.

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Bruce Feldman names former Wisconsin HC as candidate for Northwestern’s opening

Could Paul Chryst take the Northwestern job?

Northwestern fired long-time Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald earlier this week in light of former players detailing hazing within the program.

Fitzgerald had been head coach at Northwestern since 2006, that after playing for the program from 1993-1996. If you ask any Big Ten football fan, or fan of the sport in general for that matter, what is synonymous with Northwestern football, I can guarantee Fitzgerald is answer No. 1 every time. He is Northwestern football, and it’ll be weird to see someone else roaming the sidelines in Evanston this fall.

One of the many ramifications of Fitzgerald’s firing is the Wildcats now need a new head coach.

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic put together an article with nine potential candidates yesterday. Among those listed: former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst.

“Chryst could be the biggest potential wildcard in this search,” Feldman writes. “The 57-year-old former Badgers QB, now a Texas offensive analyst, knows what it takes to win in the Big Ten. He went 67-26 before getting fired last fall in a stunning move. In the previous seven full seasons he had in Madison, the Badgers won at least 10 games four times. They won eight games in his worst non-pandemic year. How badly would Chryst want back in college football? We’ll see after a season behind the scenes in the Big 12.”

This situation is multi-layered for so many reasons. There’s a real question about whether Chryst wants another coaching job, and a larger one about whether Northwestern fits what he would want. After all, the Wildcat program has only four wins in the last two seasons, two total in-conference, and does not seem well-equipped to succeed in the new era of college football.

If you ask me, Chryst would be a perfect fit. He knows the region, has shown an ability to excel on the field regardless of the talent level and he’d do a phenomenal job at staying out of the media.

But expectations in Evanston should be different than at other Big Ten schools once the divisions are eliminated. Becoming bowl-eligible and somehow finishing with a winning record should be celebrated. It’s hard to say whether that standard would appeal to a highly-successful coach like Chryst.

Nevertheless, it would be entertaining if Chryst took the job. Wisconsin takes a 180-degree turn by hiring Luke Fickell and Phil Longo while former Badger head coaches Chryst and Bret Bielema are on the opposing sidelines. Sign me up for that world. Then we would just need Jim Leonhard at Iowa somehow to have a non-Wisconsin chunk of the Big Ten coached by the Barry Alvarez tree.

Around the Big Ten: Howard Griffith says Northwestern job is one coaches will want

Northwestern football is now at a crossroads following the dismissal of head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Northwestern’s football program is in turmoil, with the program likely facing some losses in the transfer portal as well as needing to navigate finding an answer at head coach. Not an easy task, and one compounded by the ticking of the clock with an opener at Rutgers football less than two months away.

With the firing of head coach Pat Fitzgerald on Monday, the biggest issue for Northwestern is internally repairing and healing the program following some nasty allegations. But there is also the big picture issue of who will lead this team in a few weeks at Rutgers.

No interim head coach has been named yet although defensive coordinator David Braun is acting as the program’s liaison.

Big Ten Network analyst Howard Griffith called Fitzgerald “the face of what Northwestern stands for.” The former Big Ten fullback, appearing on BTN this week, talked about the magnitude of the on-the-field implications for the Wildcats program.

“No, one person is bigger than the university or bigger that the organization. It’s going to be hard,” Griffith said on the Big Ten Network this week.

“It’s just not going to be an easy job. It just isn’t and you think about looking forward to divisions going away – this is going to be a difficult job but not a job that coaches aren’t going to want. They just have to know that they have the security and the time to build the program the way it needs to be built. Because now you don’t know whether those players are going to stay. You just have no idea. So you’re going to have to spend some time recruiting the kids that are there.”

Thoughtful and composed, Griffith continued that point. With Braun currently the point person for the football program as well as having the inside track to be named the interim coach, it certainly makes for a confusing time for Northwestern.

“The interim coach or whoever’s in charge is going to have a tough job ahead of him,” Griffith said.

“But at the end of the day, these kids are going to want to go out and play and they’re going to want to continue to get that great education from Northwestern. and they’re going to continue to move forward.”

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Northwestern Hazing Fallout: Fitz Fired, Could Rees Be Hired?

Time for Tommy to come home?

If I was given 100 guesses as to what college football program would face a major scandal just a few weeks before Fall camp opened up, Northwestern wouldn’t be on the list. But here we are. College Football strikes again. You never know what you’ll get or when and from whom.

Regardless of whether you believe all allegations made against the program recently or you think they are exaggerated, one thing everyone can agree on is that this is a PR nightmare for Northwestern. They are already facing battles with Evanston over their $800 million renovation plan and its effects on the city, a cheerleader scandal, this football issue, and now an emerging baseball scandal as well. Things are not going well. Given his recent job change, Jim Phillips must feel like the luckiest man alive.

So what comes next for Northwestern? They are going to have to hire a head coach. This is a tricky dynamic. The University is in a world of trouble right now, but long term, they are still a Big Ten school with lots of money and resources. So who’s a good fit? They may prefer an experienced coach to navigate the present shaky culture out of the abyss. But will a proven elder entity want to take on all of these issues he didn’t cause? Good luck recruiting with the pitch of “We went 1-11 and can no longer push to you the wholesome program narrative Fitz lived on for decades”.

Let’s explore another path Northwestern could choose. Hiring Tommy Rees. Hear me out.