Northwestern athletic director Mike Polisky resigned Wednesday, only nine days after his hiring was announced.
Polisky, a deputy athletic director at the university for more than a decade before his promotion, faced mounting criticism after taking the role because he is named in a sexual harassment lawsuit by a cheerleader who said Polisky did not take her concerns seriously and accused her of fabricating evidence.
Others, including coaches, alumni and former athletes, voiced support for him.
Ultimately, Polisky released a statement saying he no longer wanted to be a “distraction” and was stepping down.
Here is a timeline of events that led to the decision.
December 2020
Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips announced he was leaving the university after serving in the position since 2008. He departed in February to become the Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner.
The university announced it had formed a search committee to help identify candidates to replace Phillips. Janna Blais, the deputy director of athletics for administration and policy, was tapped to serve as interim athletic director.
January 2021
Northwestern cheerleader Hayden Richardson filed a federal lawsuit, alleging she and other members of the cheer team were sexually exploited and forced to mingle in uncomfortable settings with fans and donors who groped them in 2018 and 2019. Polisky, three other defendants and the university were named.
In the lawsuit, Richardson said she met with Polisky and he did not take her claims seriously, while later accusing her of fabricating evidence.
Richardson began corresponding with the university’s Title IX Office, which handles complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination, to report her experiences in February 2019, but more than a year passed before it opened an “official” investigation, according to the lawsuit and emails provided to the Tribune.
While not part of the lawsuit, other cheerleaders spoke out in media reports about racial discrimination and said their complaints to Polisky had been inadequately handled.
April
Reports surfaced that Washington State athletic director Pat Chun and California athletic director Jim Knowlton had interviewed for the Northwestern vacancy, but both remained at their universities.
Reports of other AD candidates included UNLV’s Desiree Reed-Francis, SMU’s Rick Hart and Rice’s Joe Karlgaard. The Tribune also reported former Northwestern basketball player and sports executive Anucha Browne and former Northwestern football standout Napoleon Harris III, a state senator from Illinois’ 15th District, also were being considered.
May 2
The Tribune reported Polisky was set to be named Northwestern athletic director, but sources said some search-committee members were disappointed with the hire and disgruntled about a closed-door process after they made recommendations to university President Morton Schapiro.
Polisky was one of four candidates presented by search committee members along with Blaise, Browne and King, sources told the Tribune.
May 3
Northwestern officially announced Polisky as athletic director.
“With his long experience at Northwestern, and his integrity and wisdom, I’m confident we will continue to be a model for excellence on the playing field and in the classroom,” Schapiro said in a statement.
Polisky said in a statement, “The progress I’ve been part of here has been possible for the same reason the future of Athletics and Recreation is so bright: the people. My family and I are so thankful to be members of the Wildcats community.”
May 5
Six female faculty members signed a letter to Northwestern Provost Kathleen Hagerty, stating they were “alarmed” and “embarrassed” by Polisky’s hire.
They called for an independent and transparent third-party investigation “that demonstrates that Polisky performed his legally mandated duties and acted with integrity when addressing the concerns of the cheerleaders and their allies.”
May 6
Schapiro released a letter addressed to “concerned members of the Northwestern community,” stating confidently that Polisky met the “highest standard of conduct and character.”
Schapiro said an initial inquiry portion of the investigation being conducted by a university-hired law firm was complete and “there is no information to suggest that Mike engaged in any conduct that is a violation of policy.” He added, “Northwestern denies that it or any of its current employees violated any laws, including Title IX.”
The letter later was removed from the university website after Polisky resigned.
May 7
Nearly 400 Northwestern students, faculty and community members marched from campus to Schapiro’s home to protest Polisky’s hiring.
Protest leaders called for a more thorough investigation of the hire, and some said he should be forced to step down.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss spoke into a bullhorn to a crowd in front of Schapiro’s home. He told the Tribune the university should rescind its offer to Polisky.
“They made a mistake. They should change their minds,” he said.
Sunday
Some Northwestern coaches, such as baseball coach Spencer Allen, began tweeting support for Polisky.
Wednesday
Northwestern announced Polisky resigned.
“Over the last 10 days, it has become clear to me that the current challenges will not allow me to effectively lead our department, especially during these unsettling times in college athletics,” he said in a statement.
Schapiro said in a statement that Northwestern’s faculty athletic representative, Robert Gundlach, will run the department on an interim basis. He said in “the coming months” he will share information about choosing the next athletic director.
Earlier in the day, more than 140 signatures appeared on a letter addressed to Northwestern’s board of trustees backing Polisky.
Thursday
Phillips talked with ACC reporters and addressed Polisky’s resignation for the first time.
“Let me just say it’s been an unfortunate situation for all involved,” he said. “It’s been a difficult time for everybody, no matter who it is. Northwestern, as I think all of you know, is a place where my family and I had served for 13 years and loved our time there. I’m aware of the latest that’s happening in Evanston, but my focus has been on the ACC for the last four months and trying to get up to speed on things related to our conference. Again, it’s been a difficult time for everybody and unfortunate.”
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