According to the organization, Fitzgerald is one of eight coaches at Northwestern to be the "all-time winningest coach," ranking fourth. Northeastern football has appeared in 16 bowl games, 10 of which had Fitzgerald serving as the head coach. Fitzgerald has coached the team to four out of the five bowl victories in the program's history. “Coach Dodd is a legendary figure of our game and it is an absolute honor to win the award that bears his name,” Fitzgerald said. “This is a program award and I am privileged to be the head coach of the best student-athletes in the country alongside a staff that is second-to-none. Coach Dodd's pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity are the foundation of a Wildcat."