Northwestern Athletic Director Shifts To New Role, Will Navigate 'Emerging Opportunities'

EVANSTON, IL — As Northwestern University continues to fend off litigation from aggrieved former student athletes, a fired football coach and opponents of its plans for an $800 million stadium concert venue, university representatives on Thursday announced a new job for its athletic director.

Derrick Gragg's job title is set to change from vice president for athletics and recreation to vice president for athletic strategy, university officials announced.

Gragg's new job will involve advising the president and next athletic director about how the university can address the challenges of name, image and likeness rights and the landmark recent class action settlement in House vs. NCAA, which opens the door to revenue sharing with student athletes.

“We are thrilled that Derrick will bring his vast expertise and institutional knowledge to this new role," University President Michael Schill said in a statement. "Derrick will be instrumental in helping Northwestern navigate the emerging opportunities in intercollegiate athletics and the rapid transformations underway."

Gragg said he would make sure current and future players on Northwestern's sports teams benefit as much as possible from the new legal landscape without deviating from its academic and personal development mission.

“It has been an honor to serve as Northwestern’s athletics director, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together, with incredible staff and coaches working hard each and every day to provide a world-class experience for our student-athletes,” Gragg said.

The search for a new athletics and recreation VP — also known as an athletic director — will begin immediately, and Gragg will continue in the role until someone else is hired.

Gragg took over Northwestern's athletic department in June 2021 following the contentious nine-day tenure of Mike Polisky, who stepped down amid vocal opposition and protests linked to allegations of widely tolerated sexual harassment within the cheerleading department.

Prior to taking the job in Evanston, Gragg was senior vice president for inclusion, education and community engagement at the NCAA. Before that, he was the athletic director of the University of Tulsa and Eastern Michigan University for seven years each.

“Derrick has been an asset to Northwestern over the last few years, and our athletics department has achieved some remarkable accomplishments under his leadership, both on and off the fields of competition,” the university president said.

During his tenure, Northwestern won national championships in field hockey and lacrosse. University representatives also noted that last year it was the only Big Ten program to win a bowl game and at least one game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

“In addition, after an investigation found hazing in our football program, Derrick helped us recover and set the stage for a new era of excellence," said Schill, who initially gave former football coach Pat Fitzgerald a slap on the wrist suspension following an internal investigation into the hazing allegations.

But after the student newspaper began to reveal some of the details of allegations of widespread and sexualized hazing in team locker rooms and training camps, Schill flip-flopped and fired Fitzgerald.

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Blaming the university's decision to terminate his multi-million dollar contract for cause with his inability to find a job that he finds acceptable, Fitzgerald filed suit demanding $130 million in damages for breach of contract and emotional distress, among other things.

A Cook County judge has consolidated the ex-coach's suit with complaints filed by some of the more than two dozen ex-players seeking damages for hazing that occurred during their time playing for him. It is currently on track to go to trial before the end of next year.

In addition to the legal liabilities Northwestern faces over allegations of impropriety within its athletic department, university officials have embarked on an $800 million construction project to tear down and replace Ryan Field with a smaller stadium and commercial concert venue.

About a dozen Evanston and Wilmette residents and a local nonprofit are fighting the venture in court.

Earlier: Allegations Of Sexualized Hazing At Northwestern Detailed In New Suits