Pat Fitzgerald will at all times be remembered for his time at Northwestern than with the Dallas Cowboys. But earlier than he launched into a career in teaching, he was a participant.
He was a celebrated linebacker for Northwestern and achieved nice success with the staff. Having performed for them from 1993 to 1996, his remaining two years introduced him unparalleled success. He received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award in 1995 and 1996. Due to his performances in these years, he was additionally chosen as a Consensus All-American and Big Ten Defensive participant of the Year in consecutive seasons. He additionally took the Jack Lambert Trophy in 1996.
His performances as a school football participant was not sufficient for him to get drafted into the NFL. However, the Dallas Cowboys did signal him as a free agent. He took the chance and performed in two pre-season video games for the NFL franchise however was let go earlier than the common season.
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That would show to be the tip of his pro football career as he then moved into teaching in faculty football.
Pat Fitzgerald’s web value of $20 million comes from his teaching career
Even although a career in pro football didn’t work out, he grew to become a profitable coach over a span of two-and-a-half many years. He amassed a web value of round $20 million. His newest contract at Northwestern was reportedly upwards of $5.5 million.
His teaching career started in 1998 in Maryland as a graduate assistant earlier than transferring the subsequent 12 months to Colorado. In 2000, he secured his first senior job as a linbackers coach at Idaho. By 2001, he was again at Northwestern turning into the Defensive Backs coach and later the Linebackers coach. He grew to become the top coach of this system in 2006.
However, all of that has now come to an finish. He was fired by Northwestern attributable to alleged hazing actions throughout his time as coach. University president Michael Schill stated,
“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. Either way, the culture in Northwestern Football, while incredible in some ways, was broken in others.”
The investigation stated that it “did not uncover evidence pointing to specific misconduct by any individual football player or coach” however added that “participation in or knowledge of the hazing activities was widespread across football players.” Pat Fitzgerald denied any data of such actions and was supported by the staff in his stance.
But the reasoning his former employers took was that he ought to have often called the top coach. He leaves because the winningest coach in this system’s historical past.
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