may have made him more susceptible to the virus.'" Elliott noted at the time, "I can understand it. He never gives anything less than all he's got. It's hard to keep up a pace like that and not suffer." Fitzgerald was named the most valuable player on the 1960 Michigan Wolverines football team. He was a member of the Michigan Wolverines football and wrestling teams. Wrestling Fitzgerald was also a member of the Michigan Wolverines wrestling team from 1959 to 1961. In 1960 and 1961, he was also the Big Ten wrestling champion at 177 pounds. He was also the runner up in the 1959 Big Ten championship at 167 pounds, an NCAA semifinalist in 1960 and 1961, an AAU national finalist in 1961, and the AAU runner up in 1963. He was captain of Michigan's wrestling team during his junior and senior years. He continued to participate in amateur wrestling even after receiving his degree at Michigan. He won a gold medal representing the United States as the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo, and also participated in the 1963 World Games in Bulgaria. Fitzgerald received his master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1963. Coaching career Fitzgerald was an assistant football coach at Michigan (1963–1968), the University of Kentucky (1969–1970), and Kent State University (1971–1974). In January 1975, Fitzgerald replaced Don James as Kent State's head football coach. In three years as head coach, Fitzgerald compiled a record of 18–16. Nick Saban began his coaching career as an assistant coach on Fitzgerald's Kent State staff. In March 1978, Fitzgerald resigned his position at Kent State to become an assistant coach at Syracuse University. Fitzgerald remained with Syracuse as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for three years from 1978 to 1980. In March 1981, Fitzgerald was hired as the defensive coordinator for Tulane University. In July 1982, Fitzgerald was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers following an interview with head coach Chuck Noll. The Pittsburgh Press described the hiring as follows:"Noll interviewed Dennis Fitzgerald, a 46-year-old coach from Tulane with 21 years of experience in the college ranks, at 9 a.m., hired him on the spot, and put him immediately to work. He's to coach the linebackers, one of whom, All-Pro Jack Lambert when Fitzgerald was an assistant at Kent State." Fitzgerald spent nine years as an assistant coach under Noll, serving as the linebackers coach from 1982