With the beginning of football practice less than a month away, Northwestern is expected to act quickly in choosing a successor to Randy Walker.
More Top Picks Deer Repellent
Freshmen report to Evanston on Aug. 2, so there is little time for a new head coach to prepare. Because of the circumstances, athletic director Mark Murphy is likely to hire from within, and linebackers coach Pat Fitzgerald is the leading candidate.
Fitzgerald, 31, has been a Wildcats assistant since 2001 and was a two-time national defensive player of the year in 1995-96. Fitzgerald, a Tribune All-State linebacker at Sandburg, was the defensive leader on Northwestern’s surprise Rose Bowl team in 1995.
In 2004, Walker added the role of recruiting coordinator to Fitzgerald’s responsibilities, a sign he was being groomed for future promotion.