On Wednesday January 27th, Chicago’s hometown collegiate football coach Pat Fitzgerald agreed to a long-term contract extension with the Northwestern Wildcats through the 2030 season.
AmpliVox proudly salutes Coach Fitzgerald.
As a long-time supporter of the North Suburban YMCA, AmpliVox helped to recognize Fitzgerald and and his wife Stacy Fitzgerald when they were presented with the YMCA's Thiel Award for Social Responsibility in 2017. The award recognized their role leading the North Shore Griffins Youth Football League. Fitzgerald has a long career of accomplishments.
A former two-time All-American as a Northwestern University football player in the 1990s, Fitzgerald won both the Chuck Bednarik Award and Nagurski trophy, twice, as the best defensive player in college football.
Individual accolades were only half of Fitzgerald's impact during his time at Northwestern; leading the Wildcats to a pair of Big Ten Championships, and their only Rose Bowl appearance in school history in 1997.
Fitzgerald's collegiate impact at Northwestern awarded him a Big Ten Medal of Honor and an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Since his hiring as the program’s head football coach in July of 2006, Fitzgerald has led Northwestern to ten bowl games and five bowl victories in fourteen seasons.
Individual accolades were only half of Fitzgerald's impact during his time at Northwestern; leading the Wildcats to a pair of Big Ten Championships, and their only Rose Bowl appearance in school history in 1997.
Fitzgerald's collegiate impact at Northwestern awarded him a Big Ten Medal of Honor and an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Since his hiring as the program’s head football coach in July of 2006, Fitzgerald has led Northwestern to ten bowl games and five bowl victories in fourteen seasons.
Chuck Bednarik Award
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Big Ten Medal of Honor
College Football Hall of Fame
During the 2020 season opener, at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois, Coach Fitzgerald became the programs winningest coach with 106 victories.
To top of his already impressive player and coaching resumes, Fitzgerald has been recognized twice as the most valuable coach in college football. Once in 2020, as the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year as well as in 2018, as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Top 3 Bowl wins in Fitzgerald career
2013 Gator Bowl Mississippi State vs Northwestern
Coach Fitzgerald 's most memorable winning moments have come during his team’s bowl appearances. After a 9–3 regular season record the Wildcats were invited to the 2013 Gator Bowl where they beat Mississippi State Bulldogs 34–20, ending a 63-year bowl win drought. The school’s first postseason victory since 1949.
2017 NCAA Football Music City Bowl Kentucky v Northwestern
In 2017, Fitzgerald’s squad finished the season on an eight-game winning streak, capped by a win in the Music City Bowl over an SEC opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats. With a 10–3 season record, Northwestern finished 17th in both the AP and Coaches' Polls. Their second highest ranking in program history!
NCAAF Vrbo Citrus Bowl - Auburn Tigers vs Northwestern Wildcats
Most recently, Fitzgerald became Northwestern’s winningest coach after finishing the 2021 campaign with his 106th victory in the Citrus Bowl. Their 35-19 victory over another SEC opponent, the Auburn Tigers, was ultimately the win that prompted his long term contract.
In 2017, AmpliVox had the opportunity of a lifetime to be in the presence of greatness.
Northwestern’s Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald and his wife Stacy Fitzgerald president of the North Shore Griffins Youth Football League, were awarded the YMCA's Thiel Award for Social Responsibility in AmpliVox’s own backyard, at the North Suburban YMCA in Northbrook, IL.
This award has honored those who have gone above and beyond to support the YMCA’s mission, which is to provide the widest range of quality programs for all ages, accessible to everyone in the community.
It was during this event players of the NU Football Team assisted their coach by disguising themselves in superhero attire, taking photos with guests and helping with auctions and games.
AmpliVox is proud to be a longtime supporter of the North Suburban YMCA, including CEO Don Roth’s past tenure on the Y’s Board of Directors.
Northwestern’s Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald and his wife Stacy Fitzgerald president of the North Shore Griffins Youth Football League, were awarded the YMCA's Thiel Award for Social Responsibility in AmpliVox’s own backyard, at the North Suburban YMCA in Northbrook, IL.
This award has honored those who have gone above and beyond to support the YMCA’s mission, which is to provide the widest range of quality programs for all ages, accessible to everyone in the community.
It was during this event players of the NU Football Team assisted their coach by disguising themselves in superhero attire, taking photos with guests and helping with auctions and games.
AmpliVox is proud to be a longtime supporter of the North Suburban YMCA, including CEO Don Roth’s past tenure on the Y’s Board of Directors.
Members of the Northwestern Wildcats football team dressed as superheroes to greet guests at the YMCA Strong Kids Dinner
At the 2017 Strong Kids Dinner, AmpliVox provided an SW915 Digital Audio Travel Partner and an SW800 Titan Wireless Portable PA system with satellite speakers, delivering outstanding sound to a record breaking crowd of over 475 in the large Pinstripes venue.
In addition, AmpliVox supplied a customized Pinnacle Multimedia Lectern featuring Northwestern’s school colors and logo.
AmpliVox Sound Systems is ecstatic for the continuance of Coach Fitzgerald’s tenure with the Northwestern Wildcats Football program! We anticipate him to keep bringing the winning culture home to Chicago!
Congratulations Coach Pat Fitzgerald on your extension from the Amplivox family!
