Northwestern University on Thursday fired baseball head coach Jim Foster, just three days after he fired a longtime football coach in an alleged scandal, deepening concerns about the toxic culture in the university’s athletics.
The college did not give a reason for firing Foster, who served as the team’s head coach for one season. Derrick Gragg, director of athletics at Northwestern University, said: statement “Many factors were considered in arriving at this resolution,” he said.
The decision was obtained after a few days Chicago Tribune reported According to internal personnel documents obtained by the Times, Foster engaged in bullying and abusive behavior, made inappropriate remarks about female staff members and badmouthed his staff to other staff members.
The Tribune also reported that Foster’s interactions with players could be combative at times. 670 scoreRadio stations reported that Foster made racially insensitive remarks and forced injured players to come back too early, in some cases exacerbating injuries.
Foster told 670 the Score that the racism allegations were “ridiculous” and that “maybe the players aren’t good enough and are just making excuses or complaining. No,’ he said.
Foster did not immediately respond to a call or text message seeking comment on Friday, and it was not clear if he had a lawyer. Assistant coach Brian Anderson will lead the program, the university said.
The sudden dismissal dealt another blow to the school’s sports department this week.
Northwestern University on Monday fired football coach Pat Fitzgerald after an investigation found that its players engaged in widespread hazing, including forced nudity and sexual acts.
Northwestern President Michael Schill said: in the statement It said the decision to fire Fitzgerald, 48, came “after a difficult and complicated evaluation” of his previous discipline of a two-week suspension without pay.
Fitzgerald’s dismissal was announced later. The Daily Northwestern reported. A player, who asked to remain anonymous, told the newspaper on Saturday that about 10 teammates accused the players, mostly freshmen, of sexually binding young players. The Daily Northwestern also reported on Monday Three former players say the football program has a racist culture.
In a statement, Mr Fitzgerald said he was “surprised” to learn that Mr Sill canceled a “mutual agreement” on a two-week suspension “without prior notice” and subsequently terminated my employment.
Foster was hired in June 2022. He was previously the head coach of the Army baseball team.
Under Foster, Northwestern went 10-40 during the 2023 season.
