Pat Fitzgerald Position: Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Birthdate: 12/02/1974 Experience: 3rd HC/8th Overall

In 1995, when Northwestern took the "Purple to Pasadena," the heart and soul of that Wildcat team was defensive standout Pat Fitzgerald, whom on May 1, 2008, was bestowed his sport's pinnacle achievement: induction into College Football's Hall of Fame.

A two-time Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Award winner, Fitzgerald is one of 13 former players to enter the College Hall of Fame. The 15th Northwestern player and/or coach to be inducted into the Hall, Fitzgerald will be honored at a ceremony on Dec. 9, 2008 in New York, and then enshrined in the Hall of Fame, which is located in South Bend, Ind., in July of 2009.

"I'm truly honored and humbled with this incredible honor," said Fitzgerald. "This achievement speaks to the success of our teams that won Big Ten championships in 1995 and 1996. My teammates are as much a part of this as I am."

On May 1, 2008, the National Football Foundation announced that Pat Fitzgerald was one of 13 former players to earn induction into College Football's Hall of Fame. Fitzgerald, who already is the youngest head coach among NCAA FBS programs, is now the youngest member of College Football's Hall of Fame. Pat Fitzgerald, who is in his third season as the Wildcats' head coach, was a two-time recipient of the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik awards, which honor the country's top defensive players.

Fitzgerald's passion, dedication and work ethic were some of the primary reasons why Northwestern's defense was one of the nation's best, and why the Wildcats savored unparalleled success for two straight seasons in '95 and '96. Northwestern won back-to-back Big Ten titles and posted a two-year Big Ten mark of 15-1.

Now, 13 years later, Fitzgerald, is using those same traits that made him an outstanding college player to lead Northwestern's football program as its head coach.

Since stepping foot on the Northwestern campus as a freshman in 1993, Fitzgerald had dreams of becoming a head football coach. And it did not take him long to realize that his ideal job was at his alma mater.

"I'm excited to be the leader of this football program," says Fitzgerald. "As a former football player and graduate, I have an incredible passion for Northwestern and the Wildcats. Getting to coach outstanding young men at one of the world's greatest academic institutions is an incredible opportunity, and one that I savor and cherish."

An assistant football coach for the Wildcats from 2001 through the summer of 2006, Fitzgerald was named Northwestern's 29th head coach on July 7, 2006, succeeding Randy Walker, who died suddenly on June 29. He remains the youngest head football coach among Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) schools.

By no means was this the circumstance that Fitzgerald envisioned when landing his dream job, but when the Northwestern administration asked him to succeed Walker, he knew he was prepared for the opportunity.

"While this has been my goal from the moment I began coaching, it was also bittersweet," says Fitzgerald. "We're continuing Coach Walker's legacy and building upon his successes. Northwestern will continue to have a football program built upon great work ethic, attitude and investment."

Under Fitzgerald, the program is building momentum, after starting with a 4-8 campaign in 2006 and then gaining bowl-eligibility in 2007 with a 6-6 mark. The Wildcats, however, did not play in a postseason game due to a lack of bowl slots for Big Ten teams. (A league-record 10 Big Ten squads were bowl-eligible in 2007.) In 2007, Northwestern returned to to the top of the league in offense, leading the Big Ten in total offense for the regular season.

Led by Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern's football program is savoring unprecedented academic success.

Off the field, the Wildcats are enjoying unprecedented academic success. The past two years, Northwestern has set program-bests with 16 Academic All-Big Ten selections in 2006 and 18 Academic All-Big Ten honorees in 2007. During the 2007 fall quarter, a school-record 53 football players posted grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.

In addition, Northwestern continues to lead or rank near the top of the country in annual graduation rate. For the fourth time since 2002, Northwestern was the AFCA's 2007 Academic Achievement Award recipient, which is given to the top FBS football program for graduation rate. For 2006-07, Northwestern recorded a near-perfect 992 (out of 1,000) Academic Progress Rate (APR) index -- the newest NCAA academic measuring statistic.

Fitzgerald was front and center in the renaissance of the Northwestern football program. In 1995, he was the leader of a suffocating Wildcat defense that led the nation in scoring defense and anchored NU's storybook run to the Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl.

Fitzgerald ended the year by being named winner of both the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards as the nation's top defensive player. He also was the Big Ten, Chevrolet and Sports Illustrated Defensive Player of the Year. All this, despite the fact that he broke his leg in the second-to-last regular-season game.

Fitzgerald recovered from that injury, and in 1996 he again led the Wildcats to a share of the Big Ten title. As a result, he once again won the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards, becoming the first two-time winner of both honors. Fitzgerald also was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year again, and Linebacker of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. He also was the recipient of Northwestern's George Ballantine Jr., Memorial Leadership Award.

A two-time first-team All-American, Fitzgerald started 23 career games and totaled 299 tackles, including 20 for loss. He also forced five fumbles and intercepted three passes.

Fitzgerald signed a free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys following his Northwestern career, and played in three preseason games before taking a one-year hiatus from football.

Prior to his return to Northwestern, Fitzgerald was a defensive graduate assistant at Maryland (1998) and Colorado (1999) before taking his first full-time position at the University of Idaho in 2000.

In 2001, Walker brought Fitzgerald back to Evanston, hiring him to coach the Wildcats' defensive secondary. In 2002, he moved to linebackers coach, and then in 2004, added the recruiting coordinator to his title.

Named one of college football's top recruiters by SI.com in 2005, Fitzgerald played an integral role in both coaching and recruiting during his five years as a Northwestern assistant. He mentored two-time All-Big Ten linebacker Tim McGarigle, the all-time leading tackler in NCAA history. McGarigle is now a member of the St. Louis Rams.

In February 2003, Fitzgerald was inducted into Northwestern's Athletic Hall of Fame.

A native of Orland Park, Ill., and a graduate of Carl Sandburg High School, Fitzgerald currently resides in Evanston with his wife, Stacy, and two sons, Jack, born in November 2004, and Ryan, born in September 2006.

What They're Saying About Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald

Gary Barnett, former Northwestern head coach (1992-98)
Gary Barnett was Northwestern's head coach when Pat Fitzgerald was named Defensive Player of the Year twice and hired him as a defensive graduate assistant at Colorado in 1999.
"Pat personifies Northwestern football. The honors he received as a player, the way he handled himself as a student-athlete and the name he has made for himself in the college football world, makes it a real natural fit for Northwestern. Pat loves Northwestern; he will be a guy that the Northwestern community can count on to represent them for years and years."

Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders, offensive line coach
Tom Cable was Idaho's head football coach and hired Pat as a full-time assistant coach in 2000, his first full-time position.
"Northwestern is very fortunate to have one of their own leading them into the future. Pat Fitzgerald will provide a tremendous passion for those players and the entire Northwestern family. His integrity and vision will no doubt lead them on this journey."

Ron Vanderlinden, Penn State University, linebacker coach
Ron Vanderlinden was Northwestern's linebacker coach during Pat's playing days at Northwestern.
"When Pat was a player it was easy to see that he was special far beyond his outstanding football ability. Pat was a natural leader. He had tremendous confidence, determination, and a passion for success at everything he does. As I have watched Pat grow as a coach, I see these same qualities in Pat and the players he coaches. Pat is a fun person to be around, committed to his family, and grounded in his faith. Pat Fitzgerald is a winner, and a great choice to lead the Northwestern Football program."

Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green University, head coach
Gregg Brandon was Northwestern's wide receivers coach during Pat's playing days
"Being a member of the Northwestern family gives him a tremendous advantage in keeping the Wildcats competitive year-in and year-out. He had a great career there and embodies all of the qualities that Northwestern University stands for."

Frank Lenti, Mt. Carmel High School, head coach
"Pat is the stereotypical up-and-comer. What he accomplished on the field as a player transitioned into becoming a great coach and he did all that at Northwestern. He has talked-the-talk and walked-the-walk at NU and I look forward to what he will accomplish in Evanston."

Rob Johnson
Teammate and co-captain of 1995 Big Ten Championship team
"I am excited for Pat, his family and incredibly excited for the future of Northwestern football with Pat at the helm."

Justin Chabot
Teammate and co-captain of 1996 Big Ten Championship team, former director of football operations under Coach Walker
"Pat's experiences both as a player and coach will enable him to build upon the things that Gary Barnett and Randy Walker have accomplished at NU and Pat will be able to take the program even further."