Former Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald was relieved of his duties last month after the disgusting details emerged of racism and hazing going on under his watch at the program. He is listed as a defendant in a number of different lawsuits against the program, but it looks like this controversy won’t keep him away from the football field.
Fitzgerald has three children who have either graduated from or are currently enrolled at Loyola Academy in Illinois, a prep school with a highly respected football team. One of his sons is on the football team, and Fitzgerald will reportedly have some involvement with the team this coming season.
According to The Record North Shore, Fitzgerald will serve as a parent volunteer for the football team this year to help first-year head coach Beau Desherow.
It is unclear exactly how much involvement he will have within the team, but the school issued a statement on the matter issued to The Record North Shore.
“Supporting (Desherow) are many assistant coaches as well as parent volunteers, who provide an invaluable service to all of our athletic teams. Our entire Loyola community — assisting with gameday management, logistics, offering fresh insight, etc. Among other volunteers, current parent Pat Fitzgerald (parent of a 2023, ’25 and ’27 graduate) will serve as a volunteer for the football program.”
Fitzgerald has maintained in his defense of these lawsuits against him has maintained that he had no knowledge of these alleged hazing going on within Northwestern’s football program.
But there is certainly still plenty of controversy around him, which makes his involvement in football again undoubtedly controversial to some.
Kerry Wood – New Trier
Jim Thome – Nazareth Academy
Pat Fitzgerald – Loyola AcademyHigh school sports: the new retirement hobby option https://t.co/oWnzjzFTwG
— Tab Bamford (@The1Tab) August 17, 2023
optics ain't the greatest, sure, but the performative freakouts/pearl-clutching in the replies is much worse https://t.co/34X7oJdVYR
— IMG_4346.jpeg (@petegaines) August 17, 2023
I’d say I’m suprised by this but then I’d be lying https://t.co/KJlCY8kIip
— Joe Chatz (@JoeChatz) August 17, 2023
Well good thing there is absolutely nothing in his resume as a coach that should give a school or parents of players pause. https://t.co/oNzWLZVtyT
— Demetri Ravanos (@DemetriRavanos) August 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/arweissert/status/1692229165112508784
The Wilmette school is about 5 miles from NU's Ryan Field
A statement from Loyola says Fitzgerald has met the requirements to coach and volunteer for the Jesuit institution but does not give specifics on Fitzgerald's role https://t.co/emCNlmBoDF
— Joe C (@JoeC2319) August 17, 2023
Regardless, he certainly has insight that could be very useful for any football team, even at the high school level.
