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The Daily Orange1 OF THE GUYS: Fitzgerald leads NU with combination of youth and experience
By David F. Baer
Posted: 9/17/09, 1:30 AM EST Section: Sports
Whether he's talking about the Chicago White Sox, cracking jokes or thinking football, Pat Fitzgerald's players see him as just one of the guys.
He has a gift that his players covet, cherish and never take for granted. It's something that is imperative to the success of Northwestern football and also something that was discovered by tragedy and chance.
On June 29, 2006, the sporting world and Northwestern community had its world turned upside down when then-head coach Randy Walker died from a sudden heart attack. On July 7, eight days later, the 31-year-old Fitzgerald assumed the head coaching position and brought with him his aggressive, young, energetic personality.
In just four years at the helm, Fitzgerald has used his youth to connect with his players and continue to strengthen Northwestern's program, elevating it from a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team to a yearly competitor.
"I think it is his ability to communicate with everyone that really motivates us," Wildcats senior quarterback Mike Kafka said. "He knows how to talk to his players. He knows what makes us go. It's kind of like an 'it' factor of coach Fitz - he just has it."
When Fitzgerald took over, he was the youngest head coach in Division I football. But while he may have been young in age, he has never had a shortage of experience or passion for the game.
As a player, Fitzgerald put together a Hall of Fame collegiate career at Northwestern. During that time, he earned the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award - given annually to the nation's top defensive player - and he won both awards twice. He also played a major role in Northwestern's back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996, when the Wildcats made appearances in the Rose Bowl and Citrus Bowl, respectively.
"I think Pat is an excellent - I'd call him a young head coach, but that's almost demeaning. I think he's just an excellent head coach already," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "His future is very, very bright. He's a tremendous person, very intelligent, very articulate. But most importantly, his team plays hard and they play well."
He has a gift that his players covet, cherish and never take for granted. It's something that is imperative to the success of Northwestern football and also something that was discovered by tragedy and chance.
On June 29, 2006, the sporting world and Northwestern community had its world turned upside down when then-head coach Randy Walker died from a sudden heart attack. On July 7, eight days later, the 31-year-old Fitzgerald assumed the head coaching position and brought with him his aggressive, young, energetic personality.
In just four years at the helm, Fitzgerald has used his youth to connect with his players and continue to strengthen Northwestern's program, elevating it from a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team to a yearly competitor.
"I think it is his ability to communicate with everyone that really motivates us," Wildcats senior quarterback Mike Kafka said. "He knows how to talk to his players. He knows what makes us go. It's kind of like an 'it' factor of coach Fitz - he just has it."
When Fitzgerald took over, he was the youngest head coach in Division I football. But while he may have been young in age, he has never had a shortage of experience or passion for the game.
As a player, Fitzgerald put together a Hall of Fame collegiate career at Northwestern. During that time, he earned the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award - given annually to the nation's top defensive player - and he won both awards twice. He also played a major role in Northwestern's back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996, when the Wildcats made appearances in the Rose Bowl and Citrus Bowl, respectively.
"I think Pat is an excellent - I'd call him a young head coach, but that's almost demeaning. I think he's just an excellent head coach already," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "His future is very, very bright. He's a tremendous person, very intelligent, very articulate. But most importantly, his team plays hard and they play well."
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