Whether he's talking about the Chicago White Sox, cracking jokes or thinking football, Pat Fitzgerald's players see him as just one of the guys.
He has a gift that his players covet, cherish and never take for granted. It's something that is imperative to the success of Northwestern football and also something that was discovered by tragedy and chance.
On June 29, 2006, the sporting world and Northwestern community had its world turned upside down when then-head coach Randy Walker died from a sudden heart attack. On July 7, eight days later, the 31-year-old Fitzgerald assumed the head coaching position and brought with him his aggressive, young, energetic personality.
In just four years at the helm, Fitzgerald has used his youth to connect with his players and continue to strengthen Northwestern's program, elevating it from a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team to a yearly competitor.
"I think it is his ability to communicate with everyone that really motivates us," Wildcats senior quarterback Mike Kafka said. "He knows how to talk to his players. He knows what makes us go. It's kind of like an 'it' factor of coach Fitz - he just has it."
When Fitzgerald took over, he was the youngest head coach in Division I football. But while he may have been young in age, he has never had a shortage of experience or passion for the game.
As a player, Fitzgerald put together a Hall of Fame collegiate career at Northwestern. During that time, he earned the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award - given annually to the nation's top defensive player - and he won both awards twice. He also played a major role in Northwestern's back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996, when the Wildcats made appearances in the Rose Bowl and Citrus Bowl, respectively.
"I think Pat is an excellent - I'd call him a young head coach, but that's almost demeaning. I think he's just an excellent head coach already," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "His future is very, very bright. He's a tremendous person, very intelligent, very articulate. But most importantly, his team plays hard and they play well."
Playing hard is something that seems to come naturally for Northwestern players. Fitzgerald is only 12 years or so removed from being in their shoes, and inherently pushes the right buttons to get them motivated and to play their best.
Fitzgerald can share his NFL experience with his players, having done a short stint with the Dallas Cowboys upon finishing his collegiate career. After it didn't work out with the NFL, and a one-year hiatus from football, he began his coaching career. After only a few seasons had passed he quickly returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach under Walker.
In fact, it was Walker who brought him in to help coach the linebackers in 2001. Upon Walker's abrupt death, Fitzgerald sought advice from many people as he prepared to take over the reigns as head coach of the Wildcats.
As it would turn out, the best advice he received came from one of the most legendary and prolific coaches in the history of college football: Joe Paterno.
"Coach (Paterno) was on vacation, but he carved out some time for me," Fitzgerald recalled. "The number one thing he said was 'be yourself.' Then he told me, 'No offense, Pat, but you can't be Randy. You just have to go out and be who you are, and do what you do.'"
"I think that was some of the best advice I've ever received from someone who has 'been there and done that,' and who has been so successful," Fitzgerald added. "Coach is someone that I truly look up to and believe is what college football should and always will be about."
Three years later, Fitzgerald is still adhering to that advice. His passion for the game is evident on the sidelines and has even rubbed off on his players. Through his first three seasons he led the Wildcats to a 19-18 record and an appearance in the 2008 Alamo Bowl against Missouri.
But Fitzgerald's influence and connection with his players is more evident now than it has ever been. His Wildcats have won four of their last five games, dating back to last season when it defeated Illinois and Michigan at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Northwestern enters this weekend's matchup on the road in Syracuse with a 2-0 record (7 p.m., TW 26). Even Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone has noticed Fitzgerald's imprint on the Wildcats football program.
"You see a lot of Pat in the team," Marrone said. "Preciseness - they know exactly what they're doing; they know exactly how they want to attack. There's a toughness about that team. He's done a tremendous job. A team takes over as a reflection of what he is."
But you don't need to go as far as central New York to hear about Fitzgerald's influence on the program. Wildcats senior safety Brad Phillips is just one player who has really taken note of this. He can't help but compare Fitzgerald to Walker, the coach who recruited him to Northwestern.
"Coach Walker was more of an old-school coach," Phillips said. "Actually, he's the same kind of deal coach Fitz is, in a way, except coach Fitz has a little more experience working with the younger guys because coach Fitz is a younger coach."
A younger coach, maybe. But perhaps more importantly, one who - in just three short years - has already established himself as the essential players coach.
"He's a driven and characteristic guy," Phillips added. "He's such a great motivator because guys just love to play for him. I would say the one thing in particular that fires me up is his passion. You can just see the passion in his eyes. It just gets me fired up seeing how much desire he has to win. He wants to win as much as we do."
dfbaer@syr.edu
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