More than two weeks have lapsed since Northwestern fired coach Pat Fitzgerald after an investigation found rampant hazing within the football program. Since then, athletic director Derrick Gragg has largely been absent, as controversy has swirled around everything from the hiring of since-fired baseball coach Jim Foster to comments Gragg made about women in a book he wrote.
On Wednesday morning, Gragg gave his first interview since the firing to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, pledging the eradication of hazing within the Wildcats’ athletic programs.
“This entire situation, it’s distressing,” Gragg said. “My heart goes out to everyone who’s involved—victims, of course—but I also want to stress that we have many student-athletes who do the right thing and have always done the right thing, and coaches and staff as well. As the situation evolves, we’re very serious about eradicating anything that’s wrong, the president and the university.”
Gragg and Northwestern president Michael Schill have faced criticism for their lack of accessibility since the firing. Neither official has held a news conference, although there have been several news conferences by law firms bringing suits against the university.
“There are a lot of issues, a lot of sensitivities around legalities, so I wanted to make sure that I was in total lockstep with the university,” Gragg said. “You’ve seen the president has been more outward-facing. I obviously never wanted to do anything to preempt him or be in front of him. So I have concentrated 100 percent on internal messaging, first of all with the student-athletes and everyone connected with our program.”
Aside from football and baseball, the university’s volleyball, softball and soccer programs have also come under scrutiny. Schill, meanwhile, told The Daily Northwestern on Monday that there was “no conversation” surrounding Gragg’s job status.
