Worst possible Pat Fitzgerald replacement wants to coach Northwestern

Pat Fitzgerald’s firing has left Northwestern searching for a new head coach, but the worst possible replacement for him now wants the job.

In the wake of Pat Fitzgerald being dismissed as head coach of Northwestern football amid a myriad of hazing allegations, the Wildcats are now beginning an untimely and unforeseen head coaching search.

There are a number of former Northwestern players such as Mike Kafka or even coaches with Chicago ties like Tommy Rees who have been connected to the job. But now there’s one man who is throwing his own hat into the ring… and it might be the worst idea possible for Northwestern: former LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron.

According to InsideNU, Orgeron has reportedly expressed interest in the Northwestern football job. They also note, however, that the university has not yet reached out to Coach O.

Northwestern football: Ed Orgeron wants to replace Pat Fitzgerald

Make no mistake, in only football terms, Orgeron would be a huge addition to the Wildcats program. With stops at Ole Miss, USC, and LSU, he’s experienced heavily at the Power-Five level, most notably leading the LSU Tigers to a perfect 2019 season and eventual national championship win over Clemson in dominant fashion.

But that’s when things start to look problematic for Northwestern. In the next two years, Orgeron was named as a defendant in a Title IX lawsuit against LSU for his conduct related to sexual harassment and assault claims made against players in the football program. Though he was eventually dropped from the lawsuit as a defendant, the suit against school officials still took issue with the head coach’s conduct.

Given what Fitzgerald was just dismissed for, though highly different in nature, it would be a poor decision to hire a coach who had issues maintaining control in a Power-Five program as recently as the start of the decade.

It’s most important to note right now that, again, Northwestern has yet to reach out to Orgeron. And as they search for a replacement, it would be wise to keep it that way, even if the former LSU head man wants the gig.

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