Fitzgerald played soccer at Hudson Valley Community College before transferring to the University of South Florida his junior season.

In 1996, the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer hired Fitzgerald as an assistant coach.

[2] In his first season at UCLA, Fitzgerald led the team to an NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship.

On December 4, 2004, Fitzgerald was driving his motorcycle to scout players at a youth soccer festival in Bradenton, Florida when he was struck by an SUV.

He was taken to Tampa General Hospital, but hemorrhaging occurred and Fitzgerald died during surgery to repair his torn aorta.