Disgraced former Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald to volunteer as high school coach

Pat Fitzgerald was once the legendary head football coach of the Northwestern Wildcats. That legend has faded and the flame has been all but put out over the past few months, though, as Fitzgerald was fired by his alma mater after a damning hazing investigation into his program.

Fitzgerald may not coach college football anytime soon, if ever again, but his recent firing hasn't stopped him from being involved at the local level. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg is reporting that Fitzgerald is going to be a volunteer football coach at Loyola Academy in Chicago, where two of his sons currently attend. 

One son is a freshman and the other is a junior at Loyola. Fitzgerald is said to have gone through multiple pieces of training as well as a background check as part of his role as a volunteer. He also had to sign a code of conduct, but that is required for all coaches and volunteers in the Loyola program.

Loyola Academy relayed to ESPN that parent volunteers help in several ways, including game-day management, logistics and "offering fresh insight."

Fitzgerald is the winningest coach in Northwestern history, with an overall record of 110-101 in 18 seasons, but as mentioned, the circumstances behind his firing have absolutely tarnished his legacy.

He claimed to not know about the widespread hazing in his program but was fired because, "the head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team," according to university president Michael Schill.