After two seasons away from the sport, it seems former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is angling for jobs in the upcoming coaching carousel cycle.

Fitzgerald was initially suspended and later fired for cause ahead of the 2023 season amid allegations of hazing on the Wildcats team. He sued the university for $130 million for wrongful termination, and the two sides later reached an undisclosed settlement.

As he looks to get back in the game, Fitzgerald made his first public comments since his firing while speaking to the "ESPN College GameDay Podcast." He claimed that between the settlement and Northwestern's statement, which conceded that the university's investigation found no evidence that allegations of hazing were reported to him or condoned by him, left him feeling vindicated.

"I feel 100% vindicated," Fitzgerald said. "I feel very vindicated, especially for our players and our families. The facts are the facts."

Fitzgerald also revealed that his candidacy has been well-received in the coaching industry.

"I feel very fortunate," Fitzgerald said per ESPN. "I feel fully vindicated. It's been great working through this process. There's been conversations with a lot of folks. It's been face-to-face, it's been on Zoom, it's been phone calls. [My candidacy has] been received very well."

If Fitzgerald wishes to return to the Big Ten, there are currently two open jobs in the league — Penn State and UCLA — with other potential openings coming before the end of the season. The Stanford job, which shares several institutional similarities with Northwestern, is also seeking a full-time coach, as interim Frank Reich has made it clear that he will not return in 2026.

Whether Fitzgerald is back on the sidelines remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem his firing and the legal process that followed it will prove to be a barrier between him and potential Power Four coaching jobs.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Pat Fitzgerald feels 'vindicated' by Northwestern settlement as he eyes coaching return

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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