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Northwestern, Fitzgerald Agree To 10-Year Contract

EVANSTON, Ill. (WSCR) Northwestern has signed head football coach Pat Fitzgerald to a new 10-year contract that will keep him on the Ryan Field sideline through the 2020 season.

"It is paramount for Northwestern football to have great leadership," Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips said in a statement. "There is no better individual to lead Chicago's Big Ten Team than Pat. He is a tremendous teacher, and truly values developing young men athletically, academically and socially. Our football program is having unprecedented success--on the field, in the classroom and in the community--and that is due to Pat's outstanding leadership."

The Wildcats have gone 34-29 since Fitzgerald took over the program in 2006, after the untimely death of head coach Randy Walker. Over the last three seasons, Northwestern has won 24 games and gone to three consecutive bowl games, the longest bowl-streak in school history.

"I'm humbled and appreciative of the commitment shown by Northwestern," Fitzgerald said. "With the support of our administration, our coaches and players expect to compete for championships."

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