Dismissals of Fitzgerald, Huggins Heading Toward Ugly Legal Battles

Potential lawsuits are brewing in two recent cases involving prominent head coaches in college sports.

Northwestern dismissed football coach Pat Fitzgerald following new details of a hazing scandal. In a statement reacting to the move, Fitzgerald denied wrongdoing and said he had entrusted his agent and legal counsel to “take the necessary steps to protect my rights in accordance with the law.”

Last month, West Virginia announced that men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins had resigned following a DUI arrest and took a $1 million pay cut after using slurs during a radio interview. However, Huggins’ lawyers are now saying the coach did not resign and the school falsely announced the move. WVU refuted that notion.

It’s unclear what the next steps will be for either coach as they seek to change the narratives surrounding their negative situations. 

Fitzgerald is asserting he had no knowledge of the hazing going on with his football team and is taking exception to Northwestern reversing course on its initial two-week suspension for the coach. The coach had a reported $42 million buyout clause that he will surely look to secure.

Huggins’ situation is much cloudier, as the Hall of Fame coach attempts to prove that he never did or intended to resign. His contract ran for another year, and he could be looking to recoup the remaining $3.15 million in salary.