Randy Walker’s imprint on the Northwestern football program runs so deep that he had a voice in choosing Pat Fitzgerald as his successor.
Walker began thinking about his future, and that of his program, in 2004 when a heart problem briefly landed him in the hospital, athletic director Mark Murphy said.
“He began to think about the end of his coaching career, playing with his grandchildren and a lot of other things,” Murphy said. “He had tremendous respect for Pat and said to me, `There’s no question in my mind he’s going to be a great head coach someday, and I want him to succeed me.’
“Obviously, neither of us thought it’d be this soon, but it gives you an indication of the kind of person Pat is.”
Murphy and Northwestern President Henry Bienen named Fitzgerald the Wildcats’ new coach Friday, eight days after Walker died of an apparent heart attack at 52.
Fitzgerald, a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year as the Wildcats’ middle linebacker in 1995-96, was hired by Walker as secondary coach in 2001 and coached the linebackers the last four years.
“This would have been Randy’s choice,” Walker’s widow, Tammy, said. ” . . . [Him] becoming the head coach will keep all of the positive things at NU going in the same direction.”
Murphy said Fitzgerald agreed to a long-term contract, though it hasn’t been signed yet.
“When Mark stopped by my house last night and offered me the [job], it was the most bittersweet moment I’ve ever had,” Fitzgerald said. “It was a dream of mine to be head coach here, but not under these circumstances.”
In April, Walker signed a contract extension through 2011 and began thinking of his eventual retirement to his second home in Naples, Fla. Fitzgerald said he confided his long-term hopes shortly after that.
“He told me, `In 2012, buddy, I’m going to turn it over to you. Just let me come up from Naples in my ponytail and let me yell at you like I always have.’
“This wasn’t in the plan, but I have a call to duty, our staff has a call to duty, our players have a call to duty, to continue the legacy Randy built–and that is consistent success. My goal is to take the next step and have consistent championships.”
With freshmen reporting Aug. 2, Northwestern had to act quickly, promoting Fitzgerald a day after Walker’s memorial service.
“It’s a tough time for us all,” Bienen said. “[But] we have a football program to maintain at a very high level, which is what we want to do, intend to do, and that’s what we expect our new head coach to do with his staff.”
Murphy said he and Bienen mulled over various possibilities for succession. A nationwide search was ruled out.
“It wasn’t practical to complete a full search at this point,” Murphy said.
The idea of an interim coach also was ruled out.
“We thought about it but decided that route would have really hurt our recruiting for at least one class and possibly two,” Murphy said. “Also, it would have created turmoil and uncertainty among our coaching staff and players.”
Pleased with the state of a program that has produced three bowl berths in the last five seasons, they looked at the current staff and selected Fitzgerald, 31, who will be the youngest head football coach in NCAA Division I-A.
“He has all the qualities you look for,” Murphy said. “No. 1, he’s a natural leader. People gravitate to him. He’s energetic and a great communicator. . . . He has a great passion, not just for Northwestern football but for a Northwestern education.”
Fitzgerald, who grew up in Orland Park and attended Sandburg, was one of the stars of Northwestern’s ’95 team that shocked the football world when it won the Big Ten and went to the Rose Bowl. The Wildcats repeated as champion in ’96.
Steve Schnur was the quarterback for those teams.
“This is Pat Fitzgerald’s dream job,” Schnur said. “Northwestern is a special place. Pat understands it; he gets it.”
Fitzgerald said he would retain the entire coaching staff. He met with the players Friday and plans to sit down individually with all of them soon.
“After listening to him speak, a chill ran down my spine and I got extremely excited,” senior safety Bryan Heinz said. “I loved Coach Walk so much, he gave me a chance to play here [as a walk-on], but now it’s time to move on. I looked at some of the other players, and I could see they’re ready to play.”
Wildcats’ winners
All-time winningest Northwestern coaches:
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YR COACH REC WIN %
1935-46 Lynn Waldorf 49-45-7 .485
1999-05 Randy Walker 37-46 .446
1927-34 Dick Hanley 36-26-4 .546
1956-63 Ara Parseghian 36-35-1 .500
1992-98 Gary Barnett 35-45-1 .432
1947-54 Bob Voigts 33-39-1 .452
1964-72 Alex Agase 32-58-1 .352
1899-02 C.M. Hollister 27-16-4 .575
1903-05 Walt McCornack 25-6-4 .714
1922-26 G. Thistlewaite 21-17-1 .539
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tabannon@tribune.com
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