 The Wildcats struggled in Fitzgerald's first season as head coach going only 4–8 overall and 2–6 in the Big Ten.The 'Cats improved to 6–6 the following year before going 9–3 in the 2008 regular season (5–3 in conference play) and playing in the Alamo Bowl.After the season, Fitzgerald was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.