Cook County Circuit Court Judge Daniel J. Kubasiak on Tuesday set a date of April 7-18, 2025 for Pat Fitzgerald's wrongful termination case against Northwestern.
In a virtual hearing on Tuesday, Fitzgerald's lawyers argued for the trial to move forward to December, arguing that missing a third consecutive college football season would bring irreparable harm to their client's career.
Fitzgerald already missed the 2023 campaign following his July firing, and has yet to be hired for full-time work, which his attorney said would not happen until his legal case has been resolved.
"I'm told by experts that if he misses that third season, then it's going to have a severe impact on his ability to ever get a chance to get any kind of comparable coaching job," attorney Dan Webb said, via ESPN. "It's just the way football coaching [hiring] works. Football coaching decisions are made by teams in December, so in December of 2024 and January 2025, there will be decisions made on who's going to coach in the 2025 season.
"I was trying to rescue his ability to compete in 2025."
Northwestern's lawyers said the April date, which is 14 months from today, was "aggressive."
Fitzgerald is seeking $130 million in lost wages, as well as repetitional and punitive damages.
Another hearing is scheduled for April 2. Judge Kubasiak strongly encouraged both sides to reach a settlement.
"I don't think any party wins if this matter goes to trial," he said. "This is clearly the type of matter that should be resolved between the parties."
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