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{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1963)}}
{{for|the baseball player|Rich Rodriguez (baseball)}}
{{for|the baseball player|Rich Rodriguez (baseball)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{College coach infobox
{{Infobox college coach
| Name = Rich Rodriguez
| Image = Rich Rodriguez.jpg
| name = Rich Rodriguez
| image = Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Wolverines (5069933097) (cropped).jpg
| Caption = Rodriguez in July 2007
| alt =
| DateOfBirth = {{birth date and age|1963|5|24}}
| caption = Rodriguez with [[University of Michigan football|Michigan]] in 2010
| Birthplace = {{flagicon|Illinois}} [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago, IL]]
| current_title = [[Head coach]]
| DateOfDeath =
| Sport = [[American football|Football]]
| current_team = [[Jacksonville State Gamecocks football|Jacksonville State]]
| current_conference = [[Conference USA|C-USA]]
| College = [[University of Michigan|Michigan]]
| current_record = 18–6
| Title = [[Head Coach]]
| CurrentRecord = 0–0
| contract =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|5|24}}
| OverallRecord = 104–62–2
| birth_place = [[Grant Town, West Virginia]], U.S.
| Awards =
| death_date =
| Championships = 4 [[West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|WVIAC]] Conference Championships<br />''(1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)''<br />4 Big East Conference Championships<br />''(2003, 2004, 2005, 2007)''
| death_place =
| Awards = Big East Coach of the Year (2003,2005)<br>WVIAC Coach of the Year (1993,1994)<br>[[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] Coach of the Year(1993)<br>W.Va. State College Coach of the Year (1993)
| CFbDWID = 2011
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1981–1984
| Player = Y
| player_team1 = [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia]]
| Years = 1981-1984
| player_positions = [[Defensive back]]
| Team = [[West Virginia University|West Virginia]]
| coach_years1 = 1985
| Position = [[Defensive back]]
| coach_team1 = [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia]] ({{tooltip|SA|Student assistant}})
| Coach = Y
| coach_years2 = 1986
| CoachYears = 1988<br />1990-1996<br />1997-1998<br />1999-2000<br />2001-2007<br />2008-''present''
| coach_team2 = [[Salem Tigers football|Salem]] (DB/ST)
| CoachTeams = [[Salem International University|Salem]]<br />[[Glenville State College|Glenville State]]<br />[[Tulane University|Tulane]] <small>([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])</small><br />[[Clemson University|Clemson]] <small>(OC)</small><br />[[West Virginia University|West Virginia]]<br />[[University of Michigan|Michigan]]
| FootballHOF =
| coach_years3 = 1987
| coach_team3 = Salem (AHC/DC)
| coach_years4 = 1988
| coach_team4 = Salem
| coach_years5 = 1989
| coach_team5 = West Virginia (OLB)
| coach_years6 = 1990–1996
| coach_team6 = [[Glenville State Pioneers football|Glenville State]]
| coach_years7 = 1997–1998
| coach_team7 = [[Tulane Green Wave football|Tulane]] (OC/QB)
| coach_years8 = 1999–2000
| coach_team8 = [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]] (OC/QB)
| coach_years9 = 2001–2007
| coach_team9 = West Virginia
| coach_years10 = 2008–2010
| coach_team10 = [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]]
| coach_years11 = 2012–2017
| coach_team11 = [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona]]
| coach_years12 = 2019
| coach_team12 = [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]] (OC/QB)
| coach_years13 = 2021
| coach_team13 = [[Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football|Louisiana–Monroe]] (AHC/OC/QB)
| coach_years14 = 2022–present
| coach_team14 = [[Jacksonville State Gamecocks football|Jacksonville State]]
| overall_record = 181–125–2
| bowl_record = 6–6
| tournament_record = 2–2 (NAIA D-I playoffs)
| championships = 4 [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] (2003–2005, 2007)<br> 4 [[West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|WVIAC]] (1993–1996)<br>
1 [[ASUN Conference|ASUN Champion]] (2022)<br>1 [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12 South Division]] (2014)<br>1 [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] (2022)
| awards =2× [[Big East Conference football awards#Coach of the Year|Big East Coach of the Year]] (2003, 2005)<br>2× [[West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|WVIAC]] Coach of the Year (1993, 1994)<br>[[Pac-12 Conference football individual awards#Coach of the Year|Pac-12 Coach of the Year]] (2014)<br> [[NAIA Football Coach of the Year Award|NAIA Division I Coach of the Year]] (1993)
| coaching_records =
}}
}}
'''Richard Alan Rodriguez''' ({{IPAc-en|r|ɒ|d|.|'|r|iː|.|g|j|ɛ|z}}; born May 24, 1963), also known as '''Rich Rod''', is an American [[college football]] coach and former player. He is the head football coach at [[Jacksonville State University]], a position he has held since the 2022 season. Rodriguez previously was the head football coach at [[Salem University]] (1988), [[Glenville State College]] (1990–1996), [[West Virginia University]] (2001–2007), the [[University of Michigan]] (2008–2010), and the [[University of Arizona]] (2012–2017). His career head coaching record stands at 181–125–2. In 2011, Rodriguez worked as an analyst for [[CBS Sports]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2011 |title=Ex-Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez Joins CBS |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/ex-michigan-coach-rich-rodriguez-joins-cbs/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=CBS Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref>
'''Rich "Rod" Rodriguez''' (b. [[May 24]], [[1963]], in [[Grant Town, West Virginia|Grant Town]], [[West Virginia]]) is the head [[college football|football]] coach at the [[Michigan Wolverines football|University of Michigan]]. Prior to moving to [[Michigan]], he was the head coach at [[West Virginia University]] for seven seasons. He is one of only two current Hispanic head football coaches in the NCAA. <ref>[http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/OPINION03/712160347/1271/OPINION0305 WOJO: New U-M coach a bold move<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=7256 Climbing the Mountain Top | Scholastic.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Playing career==
==Playing career==
A native of [[Grant Town, West Virginia]],<ref name="myth">{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Dan |date=September 4, 2008 |title=Rich Rodriguez: The man behind the myth |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/rich-rodriguez-man-behind-myth |access-date=September 21, 2010 |website=The Michigan Daily}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodriguez_rich00.html |title=Player Bio: Rich Rodriguez – University of Michigan Official Athletic Site |publisher=Mgoblue.com |access-date=September 21, 2010 |archive-date=October 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001034944/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodriguez_rich00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://michigan.scout.com/2/712055.html |title=Scout.com: The Rich Rodriguez File |publisher=Michigan.scout.com |date=December 17, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022924/http://michigan.scout.com/2/712055.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schad |first=Joe |date=December 18, 2007|agency=Associated Press |title=New Michigan coach Rodriguez says leaving WVU 'difficult decision' |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3157941 |access-date=September 21, 2010 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/2007-12-17-michigan-rodriguez_N.htm?csp=34 | work=USA Today | title=Rodriguez becomes the newest Michigan man | first=Steve | last=Wieberg | date=December 18, 2007 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> Rodriguez graduated from [[North Marion High School (West Virginia)|North Marion High School]] in 1981 where he played four sports and was an all-state [[American football|football]] and [[basketball]] player. After high school, Rodriguez attended [[West Virginia University]]. Playing as a [[defensive back]], he recorded 54 career tackles over three seasons.

Rich Rodriguez graduated from [[North Marion High School (West Virginia)|North Marion High School]] in 1981 where he had played four sports and was an all state [[football]] and [[basketball]] player. After high school, Rodriguez attended [[West Virginia University]] (WVU) where he first walked on to the football team and later earned a scholarship under coach [[Don Nehlen]]. Playing as a [[defensive back]], Rodriguez recorded 54 career tackles over three seasons.


==Coaching career==
==Coaching career==
===Early coaching career===
===West Virginia and Salem===
During the [[1985]]-[[1986]] season, Rodriguez served as a student assistant coach under head coach [[Don Nehlen]] and graduated with a Physical Education and Safety degree. In 1986, he moved to what was then Salem College (now [[Salem International University]]) where he served as [[special teams]] coordinator and secondary coach. In [[1987]], he became Salem’s [[defensive coordinator]] and in [[1988]] took over as [[head coach]]. At 24 years old, he was the youngest college head coach in the country. He was 2-8 in his first season as head coach, after which the college announced it was dropping its football program.
During the 1985 season, Rodriguez was a student assistant under head coach [[Don Nehlen]] and graduated with a Physical Education degree. In 1986, he was hired by Salem College (now [[Salem International University]]) where he was [[special teams]] coordinator and secondary coach. In 1987, he became Salem’s [[defensive coordinator]] and in 1988 took over as [[head coach]]. At 25 years old, he was the youngest college head coach in the country. He was 2–8 in his first season as head coach, after which the college announced it was dropping its football program.


In [[1989]], he returned to West Virginia as a volunteer assistant.
In 1989, he returned to West Virginia University as a volunteer assistant.


===Glenville State, Tulane, and Clemson===
===Glenville State, Tulane, and Clemson===
After Rodriguez's return to WVU as a volunteer coach with the outside linebackers for the 1989 football season, he left again to take over as head coach at [[Glenville State College]]. During his stay from 1990 to 1996, the team earned three consecutive [[West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] (WVIAC) championships and competed in the 1993 [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] national championship. His first season, 1990, he led the team to a 1–7 record. In 1991, Glenville improved to 4–5–1, then 6–4 season; in 1993, Rodriguez led Glenville to a 10–3 record and the WVIAC Championship and NAIA runner-up. The next two years, 1994 and 1995, Glenville finished as WVIAC Co-Champions. In Rodriguez's final season at Glenville, 1996, he led them to a Co-Championship once again. While at Glenville, Rodriguez compiled a record of 43–28–2 and was named WVIAC Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994, NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1993, and West Virginia State College Coach of the Year in 1993 by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Glenville State's four championships under Rodriguez were their first since 1959 while his players' set five national career records for Division II.


Rodriguez left Glenville State at the end of the 1996 season to be assistant coach, [[offensive coordinator]], and [[quarterback]] coach for [[Tulane University]] from 1997 to 1998, under head coach [[Tommy Bowden]]. Rodriguez knew Bowden's father, [[Bobby Bowden]], because he had worked at his camps during summers. In Rodriguez's first year as offensive coordinator his innovative offense succeeded as Tulane went 7–4 and had their best season since 1980.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bacon|first=John|title=Three And Out|url=https://archive.org/details/threeoutrichrodr00baco|url-access=registration|year=2011|publisher=Farrar, Straus, and Giroux|location=New York|isbn=978-1-250-01697-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/threeoutrichrodr00baco/page/46 46]}}</ref> Rodriguez was part of Tulane's success, including their 12–0 season in Rodriguez's last season at Tulane, mainly for his spread offense with quarterback [[Shaun King (American football)|Shaun King]]. When Bowden was hired as the head coach at [[Clemson University]], he kept Rodriguez on his staff. Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator and associate head coach until the end of the 2000 season. Rodriguez was considered to be the frontrunner for the Tulane coaching job following Bowden's departure and was led to believe that he was going to be the next coach for Tulane. However, [[Chris Scelfo]] was hired instead.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bacon|first=John|title=Three And Out|url=https://archive.org/details/threeoutrichrodr00baco|url-access=registration|year=2011|publisher=Farrar, Straus, and Giroux|location=New York|isbn=978-1-250-01697-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/threeoutrichrodr00baco/page/48 48]}}</ref>
After Rodriguez's return to WVU as a volunteer coach with the outside linebackers for the [[1989]] football season, he left again to take over as head coach at [[Glenville State College]]. During his stay from [[1990]] to [[1996]], the team earned three consecutive [[West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] championships and competed in the [[1993]] [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] national championship. His first season, 1990, he led the team to a 1-7-1 record, but improved to 5-5 in [[1991]]. In [[1992]], Glenville went 4-5-1 - an improvement. [[1992]] showed a 6-4 season; however in [[1993]], Rich Rodriguez led Glenville to a 10-3 record and the WVIAC Championship and [[NAIA]] runner-up. The next two years, [[1994]] and [[1995]], Glenville finished as WVIAC Co-Champions. In Rodriguez's final season at Glenville, 1996, he led them to a Co-Championship once again. While at Glenville, Rodriguez compiled a record of 43-28-2 and was named WVIAC Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994, NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1993, and West Virginia State College Coach of the Year in 1993 by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Glenville State's four championships under Rodriguez were their first since [[1959]] while his players' set five national career records for Division II. He also coached three players who earned WVIAC Player of the Year honors.


In 1999, Rodriguez interviewed for the head coaching job at [[Texas Tech Red Raiders|Texas Tech]] but lost to [[Mike Leach (American football coach)|Mike Leach]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kKcaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Yy8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2489,5960880&dq=texas+tech+mike+leach&hl=en Texas Tech picks Leach for offense – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118174642/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kKcaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Yy8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2489,5960880&dq=texas+tech+mike+leach&hl=en |date=November 18, 2015 }} ''Google Archives''</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZDofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zs8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3862,3254005&dq=rich+rodriguez+interview&hl=en Texas Tech contacts N.M. State's Samuel – Herald Journal] ''Google Archives</ref>
Rodriguez left Glenville State at the end of the 1996 season to serve as assistant coach, [[offensive coordinator]], and [[quarterback]] coach for [[Tulane University]] from [[1997]] to [[1998]], under head coach [[Tommy Bowden]]. Rodriguez was essential in Tulane's success, including their 12-0 season in Rodriguez's last season at Tulane, mainly for his spread offense with quarterback [[Shaun King]]. When Bowden was hired as the head coach at [[Clemson University]], he retained Rodriguez on his staff. Rodriguez served as the offensive coordinator and associate head coach until the end of the [[2000]] season, traveling to a [[Peach Bowl]] and [[Gator Bowl]].


===Return to WVU===
===West Virginia===
On November 26, 2000, WVU's athletic department announced that Rodriguez would again return to West Virginia, this time as head coach to replace the retiring [[Don Nehlen]]. Rodriguez's first season at West Virginia, 2001, was a disappointing 3–8. However, they improved greatly the next year, as they went 9–4 while finishing as a runner-up in the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]]; this also included back-to-back road wins against ranked [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech]] and [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pittsburgh]], and a [[Continental Tire Bowl]] berth, where they lost to ACC runner-up in [[Virginia Cavaliers|Virginia]]. The Mountaineers finished second in the nation rushing with 283 yards per game and fourth in turnover margin. In 2003, the Mountaineers started the season 1–4, and after losing to #2 [[Miami Hurricanes|Miami]] 22–20, the Mountaineers posted a 6–1 Big East record and tied for the Big East championship with Miami, earning a [[Gator Bowl]] berth. That season, the Mountaineers replaced 22 seniors, eleven of which were starters. In 2004, the Mountaineers posted an 8–4 record with a talented team of seniors and juniors, but were ranked as high as sixth during the regular season.


Following the 2002 season, Rodriguez was awarded the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] Coach of the Year by [[Sporting News]] and state college coach of the year for all sports by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. He also received the 2003 [[Frank Loria|Frank Loria Award]] from the West Virginia chapter of the [[National Football Foundation]], and also earned Big East Coach of the Year that season. In 2005, he was offered to join the [[American Football Coaches Association|AFCA]] Board of Directors, and that same season was again given Big East Coach of the Year honors. In 2005, Rodriguez and the Mountaineers won the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] title with freshman tandem [[Steve Slaton]] and [[Pat White (football player)|Patrick White]], thus claiming the conference's automatic berth in the [[Bowl Championship Series]] (BCS), where they defeated the [[Georgia Bulldogs]] in the [[Nokia Sugar Bowl]] and a final [[Associated Press]] ranking of fifth, tying the highest in school history (other in 1988).
On [[November 26]], [[2000]], WVU's athletic department announced that Rodriguez would again return to West Virginia, this time as head coach to replace the retiring legend [[Don Nehlen]]. Rodriguez's first season at West Virginia, [[2001]], was a disappointing 3-8 season. However, Rodriguez's turn-around of the [[2002]] team is the greatest turn-around in [[Big East]] history with a 9-4 record,{{Fact|date=March 2007}} Big East runner-up finish, back-to-back road wins against ranked [[Virginia Tech]] and [[Pittsburgh Panthers|Pitt]], and a [[Continental Tire Bowl]] berth. The Mountaineers finished second in the nation rushing with 283 yards per game and fourth in turnover margin. In [[2003]], the Mountaineers started the season 1-4, and after losing to #2 [[Miami Hurricanes|Miami]] 22-20, the Mountaineers posted a 6-1 Big East record and tied for the Big East championship with Miami, earning a [[Gator Bowl]] berth. That season, the Mountaineers replaced 22 seniors, eleven of which were starters. In [[2004]], the Mountaineers posted a 8-4 record with a talented team of seniors and juniors, but were ranked as high as sixth during the regular season.
====2006====
Repeating their 2005 success, West Virginia posted another 11-win season, the first consecutive 10-win seasons in school history. The Mountaineers defeated [[2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]], 38–35, in the [[2007 Gator Bowl]] and finished 10th in the final polls.


On December 7, 2006, Rodriguez received an offer to be the next [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] head coach. Despite reports that he had agreed in principle to coach at Alabama,<ref>{{cite news | title = Rodriguez agrees to become Alabama's next football coach | first = Ian | last = Rapoport | url = http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/breaking/index.ssf?/mtlogs/bama_bhamnews_extra/archives/2006_12.html#213303 | publisher = [[The Birmingham News]] | date = December 7, 2006 | access-date = December 9, 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061210015046/http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/breaking/index.ssf?%2Fmtlogs%2Fbama_bhamnews_extra%2Farchives%2F2006_12.html#213303 | archive-date = December 10, 2006 | df = mdy-all }} The article stated, "University of Alabama officials and West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez have reached an agreement in principle for Rodriguez to become the Crimson Tide’s next head football coach, two sources close to the search told The Birmingham News tonight."</ref> which Rodriguez described as totally incorrect,<ref>{{cite news | title = Rodriguez leaves Alabama red-faced | first = Tony | last = Barnhart | url = http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/stories/2006/12/08/1209coaches.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120718061009/http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/stories/2006/12/08/1209coaches.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = July 18, 2012 | publisher = [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] | date = December 9, 2006 |access-date = December 29, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Rich, Alabama still talking | first = Dave | last = Hickman | url = http://www.wvgazette.com/section/103/200612081 | publisher = [[The Charleston Gazette]] | date = December 8, 2006 | access-date = January 13, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070112063138/http://www.wvgazette.com/section/103/200612081 | archive-date = January 12, 2007 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> on December 8, 2006, Rodriguez announced he would remain as head coach at West Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schad |first=Joe |last2=Maisel |first2=Ivan |last3=Schlabach |first3=Mark |date=December 8, 2006|agency=Associated Press |title=Rodriguez turns down 'Bama, will stay in Morgantown |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690016 |access-date=January 4, 2024 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref>
Following the 2002 season, Rodriguez was awarded the [[Big East]] Coach of the Year by Sporting News and state college coach of the year for all sports by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. He also received the 2003 [[Frank Loria|Frank Loria Award]] from the West Virginia chapter of the [[National Football Foundation]], and also earned Big East Coach of the Year that season. In [[2005]], he was offered to join the [[AFCA]] Board of Directors, and that same season was against given Big East Coach of the Year honors. Despite Rodriguez's success at WVU he was unable to eclipse some of his predecessor [[Don Nehlen]]'s accomplishments, which included teams that played for the National Championship in 1988 and 1993.


====Pat White-Steve Slaton Era====
====2007====
The Mountaineers started the 2007 season ranked #3 in the [[AP Poll]] and #6 in the [[Coaches' Poll]]. They were #5 in the nation, before losing to #18 [[2007 South Florida Bulls football team|South Florida]] for the second consecutive time. South Florida eventually moved to #2, before dropping out of the Top 25 after losses (though USF would end the regular season ranked at #21). West Virginia dropped to #12 and #13 in the AP and Coaches' poll, respectively, before rebounding with wins against [[2007 Syracuse Orange football team|Syracuse]], [[2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team|Mississippi State]], #25 [[2007 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team|Rutgers]], [[2007 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]], and #21 [[2007 Cincinnati Bearcats football team|Cincinnati]]. The Mountaineers eventually defeated #20 [[2007 Connecticut Huskies football team|Connecticut]] to clinch the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Championship]] and move to #2 in the [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] standings and #1 in the [[USA Today|Coaches' poll]], both the highest position ever for a Mountaineer football team. WVU's regular season ended at home with a loss in the [[Backyard Brawl]] against Pittsburgh, 13-9. After the departure of Rodriguez, the Mountaineers went on to defeat [[2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]] in the Fiesta Bowl under interim head coach Bill Stewart.


====Departure from West Virginia====
In [[2005]], Rodriguez and the Mountaineers won the [[Big East]] title with freshman tandem [[Steve Slaton]] and [[Pat White (football player)|Patrick White]], thus claiming the conference's automatic berth in the [[Bowl Championship Series]] (BCS), where they defeated the [[Georgia Bulldogs]] in the [[Nokia Sugar Bowl]] and a final [[Associated Press]] ranking of fifth, tying the highest in school history (other in 1988). Ironically, Pat White was not a starting QB; his opportunity arose from an game injury to Adam Bednarik in the 2005 Louisville game. <ref>[http://www.wlky.com/cfoot/5103454/detail.html NCAA Game Summary - Louisville At West Virginia - College Football News Story - WLKY Louisville<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>In 2006, the highly-ranked Mountaineers ended the season 11-2, with losses to [[Louisville Cardinals|Louisville]] and a shocker to [[USF]]. The Mountaineers won a classic comeback in the Gator Bowl against [[2005 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]] 38-35, led by Pat White without Slaton.
On December 16, 2007, Rodriguez informed players at West Virginia that he was leaving to succeed [[Lloyd Carr]] as the [[University of Michigan]] head football coach.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2007 |title=Rodriguez leaving West Virginia for Michigan|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3157227 |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Rodriguez's loss earlier that night to the unranked [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pittsburgh Panthers]] eliminated WVU from [[BCS National Championship|national championship]] contention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273350277 |title=ESPN – Pitt throws curveball at BCS with win over No. 2 WVU – NCAA College Football Recap |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=December 1, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2010}}</ref> Rodriguez's original resignation letter listed January 3, 2008, as his resignation date, but he subsequently made it clear that he would not be coaching WVU in its January 2 appearance in the [[2008 Fiesta Bowl]] versus [[2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]. On December 18, 2007, Rodriguez informed the university that his resignation would instead be effective at midnight that night<ref>{{cite news | title = Rodriguez Officially Finished | last = Associated Press | url = http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/12615936.html | publisher = WSAZ | access-date = December 18, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071219201222/http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/12615936.html | archive-date = December 19, 2007 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and was replaced by his former assistant coach [[Bill Stewart (football coach)|Bill Stewart]], who was selected as head coach after the Mountaineers won the Fiesta Bowl.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3178537 | title = Bill Stewart selected as West Virginia football coach | publisher = ESPN | access-date = February 8, 2008}}</ref>


The announcement of his departure came just four months after Rodriguez last renegotiated his contract with West Virginia and was made despite his stated long-term commitment to the Mountaineers. The contract included a $4 million buyout if he left WVU within one year of the August 2007 signing date. It has since been speculated that Rodriguez's departure was triggered by conflicts with the new president of WVU, [[Michael Garrison (politician)|Michael Garrison]].<ref>{{cite news | title = SPECIAL REPORT: How and Why Rich Rodriguez Left West Virginia For Michigan | last = Detroit Free Press | url = http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071222/SPORTS06/71222051/1048/SPORTS | publisher = Detroit Free Press | access-date = December 27, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080117003502/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071222%2FSPORTS06%2F71222051%2F1048%2FSPORTS | archive-date = January 17, 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Mickey&nbsp;Furfari |url=http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/MickeyFurfari/200801300014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080206083958/http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/MickeyFurfari/200801300014 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2008 |title=Charleston Daily Mail |publisher=Dailymail.com |date=January 30, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2010 }}</ref> Some insight into the discontent between Rodriguez and WVU is evidenced in a compendium of emails that were released to the [[Associated Press]] on January 23, 2008.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web |url=http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=23082 |title=West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio |publisher=Wvmetronews.com |access-date=September 21, 2010 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718090942/http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=23082 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An Associated Press story indicated that Rodriguez's agent Mike Brown was threatening to take his client elsewhere early in the 2007 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/012408/col_184751.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129212246/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/012408/col_184751.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2008|title=Rift developed before Rodriguez resigned 012408 - The Augusta Chronicle|date=January 29, 2008}}</ref>
Repeating off of their 2005 success, West Virginia posted another 11-win season, which was the first consecutive 10-win seasons in school history. The Mountaineers defeated [[Georgia Tech]], 38-35, in the [[Gator Bowl]] and finished 10th in the final polls. Rodriguez also had two consensus All-Americans, running back [[Steve Slaton]] and center [[Dan Mozes]] (who also [[Rimington Trophy]] as the nation's best center).


On December 27, 2007, West Virginia University filed a motion for [[declaratory judgment]] in [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]] Circuit Court, asking the court to find that Rodriguez's contract with the University was valid, that WVU had not breached that contract, and that Rodriguez had breached it. Subsequently, on January 18, 2008, WVU added a count of [[breach of contract]] after Rodriguez allegedly failed to pay the first installment of the $4 million [[liquidated damages]] clause (often referred to as a "buyout clause" by the media) when due.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3199797 |title=ESPN – WVU's suit against Rich Rodriguez moves to federal court – College Football |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=January 16, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irontontribune.com/2008/01/17/wvu-hurls-more-allegations-at-rodriguez/|title=WVU hurls more allegations at Rodriguez - The Tribune|website=www.irontontribune.com|date=January 17, 2008 }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated2 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/WVU/200802110660 |title=Federal Judge Remands Suit to Circuit Court |publisher=Wvgazette.com |date=February 12, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622093259/http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/WVU/200802110660 |archive-date=June 22, 2011 }}</ref>
On [[December 7]], [[2006]], Rodriguez received an offer from the [[University of Alabama]] to be the next [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] head coach. Despite reports that he had agreed in principle to coach at Alabama,<ref>{{cite news | title = Rodriguez agrees to become Alabama's next football coach | first = Ian | last = Rapoport | url = http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/breaking/index.ssf?/mtlogs/bama_bhamnews_extra/archives/2006_12.html#213303 | publisher = [[The Birmingham News]] | date = [[2006-12-07]] |accessdate = 2006-12-09 }} The article stated, "University of Alabama officials and West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez have reached an agreement in principle for Rodriguez to become the Crimson Tide’s next head football coach, two sources close to the search told The Birmingham News tonight."</ref> which Rodriguez described as totally incorrect,<ref>{{cite news | title = Rodriguez leaves Alabama red-faced | first = Tony | last = Barnhart | url = http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/stories/2006/12/08/1209coaches.html | publisher = [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] | date = [[2006-12-09]] |accessdate = 2006-12-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Rich, Alabama still talking | first = Dave | last = Hickman | url = http://www.wvgazette.com/section/103/200612081 | publisher = [[The Charleston Gazette]] | date = [[2006-12-08]] }}</ref> on [[December 8]], [[2006]], Rodriguez announced he would remain as head coach at West Virginia.<ref>{{cite news | title = Rodriguez turns down 'Bama, will stay in Morgantown | first = ESPN | last = News| url = http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690016 | publisher = [[ESPN.com]] | date = [[2006-12-08]] }}</ref>


On July 9, 2008, Rodriguez and WVU agreed to settle the lawsuit. The terms of the settlement stated that the University of Michigan would pay $2.5 million of the settlement. Rodriguez was required to pay WVU the remaining $1.5 million in three installments of $500,000 each, spread over three years starting in January 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/football/index.ssf/2008/07/michigan_will_pay_25_million_t.html |title=Michigan will pay $2.5 million toward Rodriguez's buyout – Michigan Wolverines Football: News, Blogs, Photos, Audio & Video |publisher=MLive.com |date=July 9, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2010}}</ref>
The Mountaineers started the [[2007]] season ranked #3 in the [[Associated Press|AP poll]] and #6 in the [[USA Today|Coaches' poll]]. They were #5 in the nation, before losing to #18 [[South Florida]] for the second consecutive time. South Florida eventually moved to #2, before dropping out of the Top 25 after losses (though USF would end the regular season ranked at #21). West Virginia dropped to #12 and #13 in the AP and Coaches' poll, respectively, before rebounding with wins against [[University of Syracuse|Syracuse]], [[Mississippi State]], #25 [[Rutgers]], [[University of Louisville|Louisville]], and #21 [[University of Cincinnati|Cincinnati]]. The Mountaineers eventually defeated #20 [[UConn|Connecticut]] to clinch the [[Big East|Big East Championship]] and move to #2 in the [[BCS]] standings and #1 in the [[USA Today|Coaches' poll]], both the highest position ever for a Mountaineer football team. WVU's regular season ended at home with a crushing loss in the [[Backyard Brawl]] against Pittsburgh.


An opinion poll in September 2013 by [[Public Policy Polling]] found that 47% of West Virginia voters still had an unfavorable opinion of him, with only 11% seeing him favorably.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2013/PPP_Release_WV_925.pdf |title=Clinton behind Cruz, other potential Republican opponents in WV |publisher=Public Policy Polling |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=September 25, 2013}}</ref>
Rodriguez was one of the most successful coaches in [[West Virginia Mountaineers|West Virginia]] history.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} He was credited with the first back-to-back Top 10 finishes in school history, four consecutive New Year's bowl appearances (joining [[University of Southern California|USC]] as the only program at the time to do so), the school's first BCS bowl win, three [[Big East]] championships, eight wins over Top 25 teams, twenty-six straight weeks in the Top 25, a 30-6 record from 2005-2007, and a home-attendance average of 98% of capacity. {{Fact|date=March 2007}} Rodriguez brought his unique offensive style to WVU and after a disappointing first year, led the Mountaineers to four straight winning years, in three of which (2003, 2004, & 2005) the Mountaineers won or shared the [[Big East Conference]] championship. Rodriguez led the team to six straight bowl appearances (the [[2002]] [[Meineke Car Care Bowl|Continental Tire Bowl]] the 2004 and 2005 [[Gator Bowl|Gator Bowls]], the 2006 [[Nokia Sugar Bowl]], the 2007 [[Gator Bowl]], and the 2008 [[Fiesta Bowl]]).


===Michigan===
===Departure from West Virginia University===
[[File:20090411 Rich Rodriguez & Tate Forcier during Spring Practice.jpg|thumb|Rodriguez & [[Tate Forcier]] during spring practice on April 11, 2009.]]
On [[December 16]], [[2007]], Rodriguez informed players at West Virginia that he was leaving to succeed [[Lloyd Carr]] as the [[University of Michigan]] head football coach.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3157227 ESPN - Rodriguez leaving West Virginia to coach Michigan - College Football<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Rodriguez's decision came on the heels of a loss to the unranked [[Pitt Panthers]], which eliminated WVU from [[BCS National Championship|National Championship]] contention. <ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273350277 ESPN - Pitt throws curveball at BCS with win over No. 2 WVU - NCAA College Football Recap<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Rodriguez's original resignation letter listed January 3, [[2008]], as his resignation date, but he subsequently made it clear that he would not be coaching WVU in its January 2 appearance in the [[2008 Fiesta Bowl]] vs the [[University of Oklahoma]]. On December 18, 2007, Rodriguez informed the university that his resignation would instead be effective at midnight that night<ref>{{cite news | title = Rodriguez Officially Finished | last = Associated Press | url = http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/12615936.html | publisher = WSAZ | accessdate=2007-12-18}}</ref> and was replaced by his former assistant coach [[Bill Stewart]], who was selected as head coach after the Mountaineers won the Fiesta Bowl.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3178537 | title = Bill Stewart selected as West Virginia football coach | publisher = ESPN | accessdate = 2008-2-8}}</ref>
Rodriguez was introduced by [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]] as its new coach at a news conference held on December 17, 2007, at the Junge Family Champions Center on the University of Michigan campus. After arriving at Michigan, Rodriguez installed a new staff. He brought several members of his West Virginia staff with him, including Tony Gibson and offensive coordinator [[Calvin Magee]]. [[Fred Jackson (American football coach)|Fred Jackson]], the running backs coach, was the only coaching holdover from [[Lloyd Carr]]'s staff. Rodriguez also changed the strength and conditioning facilities, completed a top ten incoming recruiting class in 2008 (which was recruited mainly by Carr and his staff), and installed his own recruiting to serve his [[spread offense]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Equipment manager Jon Falk also stayed with the Michigan football program; he had been with Michigan since the days of [[Bo Schembechler]].


Rodriguez began his Michigan coaching career on August 30, 2008, with a 25–23 loss to [[2008 Utah Utes football team|Utah]]. His [[2008 Michigan Wolverines football team|2008 team]] finished with a record of 3–9, the worst season in school history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20081217/SPORTS06/81217054/1049/SPORTS01/U-M+s+3-9+season+is+all+on+Rich+Rodriguez|title=Detroit Free Press|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=November 13, 2009|archive-date=October 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005014549/http://www.freep.com/article/20081217/SPORTS06/81217054/1049/SPORTS01/U-M+s+3-9+season+is+all+on+Rich+Rodriguez|url-status=dead}}</ref> Michigan's losing record meant that the team did not play in a post-season [[bowl game]] for the first time in 33 years, the longest such streak in college football up to that point. One of the few high points of the season came on September 27 when Michigan made the second-largest comeback in program history to defeat #9 [[2008 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]] 27–25 after trailing 19–0 late in the third quarter. That contest was also the 500th game played in [[Michigan Stadium]].
The announcement of his departure came just one year after Rodriguez last renegotiated his contract with West Virginia, and was made despite his stated long-term commitment to the Mountaineers. It has since been speculated that Rodriguez's departure was triggered by conflicts with the new President of WVU, Mike Garrison.<ref>{{cite news | title = SPECIAL REPORT: How and Why Rich Rodriguez Left West Virginia For Michigan | last = Detroit Free Press | url = http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071222/SPORTS06/71222051/1048/SPORTS | publisher = Detroit Free Press | accessdate = 2007-12-27}}</ref>
<ref>[http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/MickeyFurfari/200801300014 Charleston Daily Mail<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


====Players leaving and criticism====
Some insight into the discontent between Rodriguez and [[West Virginia University]] is evidenced in a compendium of emails that were released to the Associated Press on January 23, 2008. <Ref>http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=23082</Ref>
Several Michigan players transferred and subsequently criticized Rodriguez. [[Justin Boren]] transferred from the program to rival Ohio State citing offensive behavior and a "lack of family values" from the coaching staff.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ohio State's Justin Boren is a player divided|date=July 31, 2008|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2008-07-31/ohio-states-justin-boren-player-divided|access-date=September 5, 2009|archive-date=August 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824203653/http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2008-07-31/ohio-states-justin-boren-player-divided|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lineman Boren says he left Michigan because 'family values have eroded'|date=March 26, 2008|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3314282|access-date=September 5, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Michigan allegations suggest friction remains|date=August 30, 2009|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/2650/michigan-allegations-suggest-friction-remains|access-date=September 5, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Boren to the Buckeyes|date=April 23, 2008|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/football/index.ssf/2008/04/boren_to_the_buckeyes.html|access-date=September 5, 2009}}</ref> Boren became first team all Big Ten at Ohio State University in the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Big Ten announces All Big-10 team|date=November 25, 2009|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112309aag.html|access-date=December 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127055128/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112309aag.html|archive-date=November 27, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Others have supported the assertion about a lack of family values, including ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' writer Michael Rosenberg, who stated "Rodriguez's staff uses some of the foulest, most degrading language imaginable. I know coaches curse, and I'm no prude, but this goes way beyond a few dirty words. This is a big part of why offensive lineman Justin Boren left the team. He felt his dignity was at stake."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ZMHR&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=121D625FB528CB90&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=West Virginia-Michigan ordeal reveals ugly truths about Rodriguez|access-date=November 21, 2009|date=July 9, 2008|work=[[Detroit Free Press]]|author=Rosenberg, Michael}}</ref> Former Michigan player Kurt Wermers claimed to not get along with coaches after transferring following the 2008 season to [[Ball State University]], but he was, in fact, academically ineligible at the time of his transfer, calling into question the credibility of his claim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4341213|title=Sources: Wermer was already out at UM|last=Rittenberg|first=Adam|date=August 20, 2009|work=ESPN.com|access-date=October 6, 2009}}</ref>
An Associated Press story indicates that Rodriguez's agent Mike Brown was threatening to take his client elsewhere early in the 2007 Football season.
<Ref>http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/012408/col_184751.shtml</Ref> Less than 24 hours after Rodriguez announced he was leaving WVU to take a job as Michigan’s new football coach, Mayor Robert Riggs ordered two signs taken down that proclaim Grant Town as the “Home of WVU Head Football Coach Rich Rodriguez.”<Ref>http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x476762846</Ref>


====Paperwork Controversy====
====NCAA rule violations====
[[File:Rich Rodriguez interview.jpg|thumb|Rich Rodriguez gives an interview in Beaver Stadium before the day of the 2010 Michigan vs. Penn State game]]Prior to the 2009 season several anonymous players told journalists (including Rosenberg) at the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' that Rodriguez and his coaching staff had habitually violated NCAA rules. The alleged offenses included attending unofficial scrimmages and requiring players to work out more hours than NCAA rules permit for the off-season. Rodriguez denied the allegations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20090831/SPORTS06/90831008/1318/Rodriguez---We-know-the-rules--we-go-by-the-rules-|title=U-M's Rodriguez: 'We go by the rules'|work=Detroit Free Press|date=August 31, 2009|access-date=August 31, 2009}}</ref> On October 27, 2009, the NCAA sent a Notice of Inquiry to the University of Michigan stating the NCAA found reasonably reliable information indicating NCAA rule violations.<ref>[http://www.freep.com/article/20091026/SPORTS06/91026058/1048/sports/NCAA-finds-reason-to-continue-U-M-probe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120222112/http://www.freep.com/article/20091026/SPORTS06/91026058/1048/sports/NCAA-finds-reason-to-continue-U-M-probe|date=November 20, 2009}}</ref> Following the Notice, the investigation into potential major violations continued. On November 16, 2009, the University of Michigan Auditors looking into the NCAA violations discovered that University of Michigan Athletic Department staff failed to file monthly logs that track how much players work out and practice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4660285 |title=Michigan Wolverines didn't keep workout logs, school says – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20091116/SPORTS06/91116040/1320/U-M-failed-to-keep-logs-of-practice-time|title=Detroit Free Press|website=Detroit Free Press}}</ref>
On [[January 15]], 2008, West Virginia University announced that they would investigate the disappearance of player and football program files from the former office of Rodriguez. The reportedly destroyed paperwork was alleged to have detailed every player on West Virginia's roster and included program activities for the previous seven years of Rodriguez' tenure; however, Rodriguez and his representatives have contended that these were personal office files and that the University maintained duplicate file and player master records. <ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3197764 ESPN - Report: Player files went missing after Rodriguez took new job - College Football<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10580924 West Virginia Mountaineers, NCAA Football - CBSSports.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> When the University revealed it had copies of relevant academic information, the controversy subsided.<ref>[http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=337727]<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


Then on February 22, 2010, the NCAA formally accused Michigan of five "major rules violations" after finding that the team and its coaching staff failed to comply with practice time rules under coach Rich Rodriguez, and used several graduate assistants in coaching position in contravention of NCAA regulations on the limits of the number of coaches.<ref>[http://freep.com/article/20100223/SPORTS06/100223022/1319/NCAA-U-M-football-made-5-major-rule-violations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226141745/http://freep.com/article/20100223/SPORTS06/100223022/1319/NCAA-U-M-football-made-5-major-rule-violations|date=February 26, 2010}}</ref> This marked the first time that major violations have been alleged against the Michigan football program. All of the violations dated from January 2008 forward, which coincided with Rodriguez's arrival at Michigan. The University of Michigan has acknowledged that it committed four major violations in its football program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20100525/SPORTS06/100525008/Michigan-football-admits-major-NCAA-violations--cuts-practice-time--disciplines-7-people |title=U-M Football admits major NCAA violations, cuts practice time, disciplines 7 people &#124; freep.com &#124; Detroit Free Press |publisher=freep.com |access-date=September 21, 2010}}</ref> This resulted in U-M self-imposing sanctions which including cutting practice time and either disciplining or terminating staff, as well as two years probation. The final NCAA report downgraded the list of violations originally investigated, agreed with Michigan's self-imposed sanctions, but added an extra year of probation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.annarbor.com/2010/11/04/NCAA-Michigan-report.pdf |title=NCAA Ruling on Michigan's self-imposed sanctions |publisher=annarbor.com |date=November 4, 2010}}</ref>
====WVU versus Rodriguez Lawsuit====
On [[December 27]], 2007, West Virginia University filed a motion for [[declaratory judgment]] in [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]] Circuit Court, asking the Court to find that Rodriguez's contract with the University was valid, that WVU had not breached that contract, and that Rodriguez had breached it. Subsequently, on [[January 18]], 2008, WVU added a count of [[breach of contract]] after Rodriguez allegedly failed to pay the first installment of the $4 million [[liquidated damages]] clause (often refered to as a "buyout clause" by the media) when due. Rodriguez had the lawsuit removed to federal court on January 16, 2008, claiming that he had established a [[domicile]] in Michigan prior to the original [[December 27]] filing date. WVU filed an objection to that removal, and ultimately prevailed on [[February 11]], when the federal court [[remand]]ed the matter to the Circuit Court.
<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3199797 ESPN - WVU's suit against Rich Rodriguez moves to federal court - College Football<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.irontontribune.com/articles/2008/01/17/sports/sports02.txt The Ironton Tribune > Archives > Sports > WVU hurls more allegations at Rodriguez<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=23082 West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/WVU/200802110660 Federal Judge Remands Suit to Circuit Court]</ref>


====Eventual departure====
Rodriguez claims that he departed WVU because of alleged verbal agreements which were not kept by WVU. Most notably, he claims that incoming WVU President Michael Garrison told him that WVU would waive or reduce the amount of liquidated damages specified in the contract, as an inducement to having Rodriguez sign that contract. WVU has denied that any verbal agreements were made. <ref>[http://dailymail.com/Sports/WVUSports/200801222532 Charleston Daily Mail<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Despite the setbacks of his inaugural season, Rodriguez compiled a recruiting class for the [[2009 Michigan Wolverines football team|2009 season]] which was ranked eighth nationally by Rivals.com. Tom Dienhart, writing for ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', named Rodriguez the second best football coach in the [[Big Ten Conference]] behind only [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]]'s [[Kirk Ferentz]] and ahead of more tenured coaches such as [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]'s [[Joe Paterno]] and [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]]'s [[Jim Tressel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.si.com/news/sp/archive/detail/1518698;jsessionid=79F9EEF530A980691ED4DFB504B53BCC.cnnsilive9i |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718092840/http://m.si.com/news/sp/archive/detail/1518698;jsessionid=79F9EEF530A980691ED4DFB504B53BCC.cnnsilive9i |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |title=Kirk Ferentz claims top spot in Big Ten coaching rankings |last=Dienhart |first=Tom |date=April 7, 2009 |publisher=Time Inc. |page=2 |access-date=September 9, 2009 }}</ref>


Under Rodriguez, the Wolverines opened the 2009 season with a 31–7 win against [[2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team|Western Michigan]] followed by wins over rival [[2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] and [[2009 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team|Eastern Michigan]]. Following these three victories, two over weak mid-major opponents, Michigan opened its Big Ten schedule with a 36–33 win against [[2009 Indiana Hoosiers football team|Indiana]]. However, Michigan finished the season with a 5–7 (1–7 in the Big Ten) record after road losses to [[2009 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]], and the [[Iowa Hawkeyes]] and a 25-point home loss to [[2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]] followed by a 25-point loss to the [[University of Illinois]] and a 38–36 loss at home to [[Purdue University|Purdue]]. Rodriguez ended the 2009 season with a 21–10 loss to rival [[2009 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]. This loss eliminated the Wolverines from bowl competition for the second year in a row.
On [[January 29]], Rodriguez posted a $1.5 million [[letter of credit]] with the federal court, which he described as a gesture of [[good faith]]. The letter of credit was designed to fund any payments, up to $1.5 million, that the court might order Rodriguez to make to WVU prior to [[April 27]], 2008, which is the expiration date of the letter. Rodriguez claimed that $1.5 million is the maximum amount of damage to which WVU might be entitled under the terms of the contract, an assertion that WVU has denied. <ref>[http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080130/SPORTS06/801300384 COMPROMISE?: U-M coach Rich Rodriguez makes $1.5-million offer<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>[http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/WVUSports/200801310127 Charleston Daily Mail<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080130/SPORTS06/801300384 COMPROMISE?: U-M coach Rich Rodriguez makes $1.5-million offer<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.wvmetronews.com/uploads/Rod_CourtFiling_01.pdf Court Filing and Letter of Credit]</ref>


The 2010 season got off to a similar start to the 2009 campaign, with the Wolverines winning their first five games of the season. Michigan started the season off by notching a win over [[2010 Connecticut Huskies football team|Connecticut]], who eventually won a share of the Big East title and went on to represent the conference in a BCS bowl. By week three, the team earned a spot in the AP Top 25 at #20 and USA Today Poll at #22. Their highest AP ranking, #18, came before recording their first loss of the season against 17-ranked in-state foe and eventual Big Ten co-champion [[2010 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]] (part of a three-way tie). The team finished Big Ten play with a 3–5 record, including a 37–7 loss against arch-rival [[2010 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]. This caused further criticism of Rodriguez, for failing to restore competitiveness to one of college football's greatest rivalries. Still, Michigan had earned a 7–5 record and, for the first time under Rodriguez, were bowl eligible.
====Recruiting Controversy====
In its [[January 15]], 2008 court filing, WVU alleged that Rodriguez used WVU [[Mobile phone|cell phone]]s to make calls to players that he had been recruiting on behalf of WVU, in order to let them know he was going to Michigan. This was allegedly done prior to resigning his position at WVU or telling his own players on the West Virginia team.
<ref>[http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/WVUSports/200801090218 Charleston Daily Mail<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/6800-College_Football-WVU_Football-Michigan_Wolverines_Football-Rich_Rodriguez_Pursuing_Michigan_Recruits_w_WVU_Phone_ Rich Rodriguez, Pursuing Michigan Recruits w/ WVU Phone. - Bleacher Report<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


The season included such highlights as a spectacular 67–65 comeback win over Illinois in triple overtime on November 6 and a special talent in sophomore quarterback [[Denard Robinson]] who in 12 games passed for 2,316 yards and rushed for 1,643 yards while accounting for 30 rushing and passing touchdowns. Rodriguez led Michigan to its first New Year's Day bowl since the 2007 season when Michigan accepted a bid to play in the [[2011 Gator Bowl|Gator Bowl]]. However, Michigan's 38-point loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl was the worst bowl loss in school history.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=310010130 |title=Michigan suffers school's worst bowl loss to Mississippi State in Gator Bowl |work=ESPN.com |date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=January 1, 2011}}</ref>
===University of Michigan===


Due to the team's disappointing season after such a promising start, and another loss to Ohio State, Rodriguez finished the regular season campaign amidst speculation that he would not return for the 2011 season. Rumors about Rodriguez's ousting heated up after the season, when [[Stanford Cardinal]] head coach and former Michigan quarterback [[Jim Harbaugh]] did not attend an anniversary dinner recognizing the 1985 Michigan team.<ref name="freep.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20101203/COL08/12030501/Jamie-Morris-End-limbo-restore-old-Michigan| title=Drew Sharp: Jamie Morris, end the limbo, restore 'the old Michigan'|last=Sharp|first=Drew|date=October 3, 2010|publisher=Detroit Free Press|access-date=October 4, 2010}}</ref> Harbaugh had been rumored to replace Rodriguez in seasons past.
Rodriguez was introduced by the Wolverines as their new coach at a news conference held on [[December 17]], 2007 at the Junge Family Champions Center on the University of Michigan campus. WVU recruiting coordinator Tony Gibson and offensive coordinator Calvin Magee accompanied Rich Rodriguez and were introduced as members of his new Michigan staff.
<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3157227 ESPN - Rodriguez leaving West Virginia to coach Michigan - College Football<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


At Michigan, Rodriguez suffered a 20-point home loss to a Big Ten opponent in all three seasons he coached (most recently against [[2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]], a 48–28 loss).<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20091025/COL08/910250430/1054/SPORTS06/Lloyd-Carr-s-support-won-t-save-Rich-Rod-forever |title=Drew Sharp: Lloyd Carr's support won't save Rich Rod forever &#124; freep.com &#124; Detroit Free Press |publisher=freep.com |date=October 25, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2010}}</ref> In his first two years, Rodriguez had no wins in October against Football Bowl Subdivision teams and did not record a win against such an opponent until the 2010 season, recording a road victory over Indiana.<ref name="freep.com"/> At Michigan, Rodriguez had a 2–7 record against the Wolverines' three regular season rivals: Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan State,<ref name="freep.com"/> recording victories against Notre Dame in the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.
===Spread option===
Rodriguez has been considered the pioneer/creator of the no huddle [[spread offense|spread option offense]] (although a pass-first version was already being implemented),<ref name="Spread">{{cite web|url=http://www.theprescription.com/blog_college-football-coaching-award.php|title=College Coaching Award|accessdate=2006-10-18|last=Lang|first=Arne}}</ref><ref name="Spread-2">{{cite web|url=http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/columns/story?columnist=davie&id=2457483|title=Football 101: Mountaineers spread the wealth|accessdate=2006-10-18|last=Davie|first=Bob}}</ref><ref name="Spread-3">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/sports/stories/2007/08/09/osufb09.ART_ART_08-09-07_C1_L37IN06.html|accessdate=2007-08-09|title=College football: Spread option remains in vogue|last=May|first=Tim}}</ref> while at Glenville State, which he refined through his stops at [[Tulane University|Tulane]] with [[Shaun King]], [[Clemson University|Clemson]] with [[Woodrow Dantzler]], and [[West Virginia University|West Virginia]]. This strategy features frequent use of the [[shotgun formation]].


[[File:Media Circus at Schembechler Hall.jpg|thumb|Media circus outside of Schembechler Hall after news broke that Rich Rodriguez had been fired as University of Michigan head coach on Jan 5, 2011]]
In [[1997]] with [[Tulane]] he called 366 passes vs. 424 runs (54% Run). In [[1998]] he called 375 passes vs. 518 runs (58% Run) with [[Tulane]]. In [[1999]] with [[Clemson University|Clemson]] he called 422 passes vs. 486 runs (54% Run).
Rodriguez was rumored to be let go as Michigan coach on January 4, 2011. School officials initially denied this, but the following day, athletic director [[Dave Brandon]] announced that Rodriguez had been dismissed.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/early-lead/2011/01/report_michigan_fires_rich_rod.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Michigan denies reports that Rich Rodriguez has been fired...as of now}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5991296|title=Michigan fires Rodriguez after 3-year struggle|date=January 5, 2011|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Rodriguez has the lowest winning percentage (.405) of any coach in Michigan football's history. He also went 0–3 against Ohio State (outscored 100–24) and 0–3 against Michigan State. He oversaw the end of the longest active bowl streak in the NCAA. Recruiting also took a significant downturn during the Rodriguez era which would have an impact for the years following his tenure at Michigan.


Rodriguez worked as an analyst for [[CBS Sports]] for most of the 2011 season before being hired to coach at Arizona. He had previously participated in CBS's 2011 Signing Day Coverage. When asked if he regretted moving to Michigan, he said: "I think it's easy to go back now and say, 'Gee, [I] made a mistake.' And you can say that now because of hindsight. But at the time, some of the things I was looking to do and the opportunity that was there, you kind of make the move....but you know hindsight is always easier to look back and say, 'it was a mistake.' Because we did have a good thing going at West Virginia, and we really enjoyed it. As you look back at it, [it] wasn't the best move. Easy to say now." When asked if he would ever return to coaching, Rodriguez said, "I'm open to another opportunity, but we'll see. Here, that window looks like it's closed, but if something comes open after this season, and it seems like it may be a good opportunity for me and someone is interested, I'm sure I'll look into it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/19452/rodriguez-admits-regret-for-leaving-wvu |title=Rodriguez admits leaving WVU may have been a mistake |publisher=ESPN (blog) |date=April 25, 2011}}</ref>
With [[West Virginia]] his playcalling continued to center around the run. <br />
[[2001]]: 355 passes vs. 474 runs (57% Run) <br />
[[2002]]: 279 passes vs. 714 runs (72% Run) <br />
[[2003]]: 252 passes vs. 600 runs (70% Run) <br />
[[2004]]: 259 passes vs. 589 runs (69% Run) <br />
[[2005]]: 193 passes vs. 625 runs (76% Run) <br />
[[2006]]: 233 passes vs. 590 runs (72% Run)


In June 2011, Rodriguez put the family home in [[York Township, Michigan]] up for sale for an asking price of $1.9 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://annarbor.com/news/rich-rodriguez-puts-home-in-saline-up-for-sale-for-a-cool-19-million/|title=Rich Rodriguez puts Saline-area home up for sale for a cool $1.9 million|website=annarbor.com}}</ref><ref>http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/rich-rodriguez's-home-for-sale,-listed-at-nearly-$1.9-million-20110705-mr{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===Coaching record===


The tumultuous three years with Michigan was chronicled in great detail in ''Three and Out'', written by [[John U. Bacon]]. Bacon was given full insider access from the start of the 2008 season all the way through the search for Rodriguez's successor. The book also covers Rich Rodriguez's career before coming to Michigan, including the buyout from West Virginia.
{{CFB Coaching Record Start| team = | conf = | bowl = }}

{{CFB Coaching Record Team
===Arizona===
| team = Salem Tigers
Following Rodriguez's tenure at CBS, he was hired as the 30th head coach of the [[Arizona Wildcats football]] program on November 21, 2011. His hiring was first announced by University of Arizona athletic director [[Gregory Byrne|Greg Byrne]] on [[Twitter]]<ref>{{cite tweet|user=Greg_Byrne|author=Greg Byrne|number=138777752001187840|date=November 22, 2011|title=And the new Arizona football coach and his family is.......}}</ref> while a press conference officially announcing him as the head coach was held a day later at [[McKale Center]] in [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://azstarnet.com/sports/blogs/pac12pundit/ua-football-rodriguez-s-goal-is-win-rose-bowl/article_3990cef8-1544-11e1-a26f-001cc4c03286.html|title=UA football: Rodriguez's goal is 'win Rose Bowl'|last=Finley|first=Patrick|date=November 22, 2011|work=Arizona Daily Star|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref> Rodriguez's hiring ended a 41-day search for a head coach which started after [[Mike Stoops]] was dismissed after eight seasons as Wildcat head coach.
| conf = WVIAC
====2012====
In Rodriguez's first season at Arizona, the Wildcats finished the season 8–5 with a win over [[2012 Nevada Wolf Pack football team|Nevada]] in the [[2012 New Mexico Bowl|New Mexico Bowl]]. The season, which included Arizona running back [[Ka'Deem Carey]] breaking the school single-season records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, was Rodriguez' first winning debut season and first bowl appearance in a debut season. It also tied [[Jim Young (American football coach)|Jim Young]] for the most wins in an Arizona coach's debut season.
====2013====
The Wildcats posted an 8–5 record in Rodriguez' second season as head coach. The season saw the emergence of star running back Carey and was capped with a victory over [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College]] in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl.
====2014====
In his third year, Rodriguez led the Wildcats to their first 5–0 start and top 10 ranking since 1998 after beating No. 2 Oregon 31–24. He then lost his first game to Southern California and subsequently lost to UCLA. After compiling an 0–2 mark against in-state arch-rival Arizona State his first two years, Rodriguez's Wildcats defeated the [[2014 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Sun Devils]], 42–35 in 2014 to win the Pac-12 South Division, the first divisional championship in program history.

The Wildcats advanced to the [[2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game|Pac-12 Football Championship Game]] at [[Levi's Stadium]] in [[Santa Clara, California]], where they were defeated by their conference rivals, the [[2014 Oregon Ducks football team|Oregon Ducks]], 51–13 (despite winning the regular season match-up).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/12/06/oregon-arizona-pac-12-championship-game-college-football/19989479/|title=Oregon dominates Arizona 51-13 to win Pac-12; next stop, playoff|website=usatoday.com}}</ref> The Wildcats then played in the [[2014 Fiesta Bowl (December)|2014 Fiesta Bowl]], the school's third major-bowl appearance, where they faced the [[2014 Boise State Broncos football team|Boise State Broncos]]. Arizona lost the game to Boise State, 38–30. Under Coach Rodriguez, the Wildcats finished the 2014 season with a record of 10–4 (7–2 Pac-12), achieving only the second 10-win regular season in program history; the Wildcats also finished the season ranked #17 in the ''[[USA Today]]'' [[Coaches Poll]] and #19 in the [[AP Poll]].
====2017====
In what turned out to be his final game at Arizona, he coached the Wildcats to a 38-35 loss against [[2017 Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue]] in the [[2017 Foster Farms Bowl]] on December 27, 2017.

==== Firing ====
Rodriguez's former administrative assistant filed a multimillion-dollar claim accusing him of sexually harassing her and creating a hostile work environment for years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21946402/arizona-wildcats-fire-football-coach-rich-rodriguez|title=Arizona fires Rich Rodriguez amid allegations|work=ESPN.com|access-date=January 27, 2018}}</ref> Rodriguez was fired on January 2, 2018, after a three-month internal investigation by the [[Arizona Wildcats]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/22170484/woman-files-claim-more-allegations-former-arizona-wildcats-football-coach-rich-rodriguez|title=Rich Rodriguez faces expanded allegations|work=ESPN.com|access-date=January 27, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He admitted to having an extramarital affair, but denied all allegations of other sexual misconduct.<ref name=":1" /> The lawsuit filed by his former administrative assistant was dismissed in September 2019. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Hunsucker|first=Adam|title='This is a statement that we came here to win': Rich Rodriguez joins Terry Bowden at ULM|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/ulm/2021/01/12/rich-rodriguez-hired-ulm-offensive-coordinator/6646337002/|access-date=January 14, 2021|website=The News-Star|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Ole Miss ===
On December 31, 2018, it was announced that Rodriguez accepted the offensive coordinator position at the [[University of Mississippi]] ([[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]]), joining newly hired defensive coordinator [[Mike MacIntyre]] (recently fired head coach at [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]]) on the staff of head coach [[Matt Luke (American football)|Matt Luke]]. He received a three-year contract. After Matt Luke was fired in December 2019, new head coach [[Lane Kiffin]] did not offer a contract to Rodriguez. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25651143|title=Ole Miss hires ex-Arizona coach Rodriguez as OC|date=December 31, 2018|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>

===Louisiana–Monroe===
On January 12, 2021, it was announced that Rodriguez had accepted the offensive coordinator position at the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]].

===Jacksonville State===
On November 30, 2021, Rodriguez was introduced as the new head coach of the [[Jacksonville State Gamecocks football|Jacksonville State Gamecocks]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=November 30, 2021 |title=JSU's Rich Rodriguez: 'This is a great day for me' |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/11/jacksonville-states-rich-rodriguez-this-is-a-great-day-for-me.html |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=AL.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Spread option==
Rodriguez is considered a pioneer of a [[Hurry-up offense|no huddle]], run-oriented version of the [[spread offense]], although a pass-first version was already being implemented by others.<ref name="Spread">{{cite web|url=http://www.theprescription.com/blog_college-football-coaching-award.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120172120/http://www.theprescription.com/blog_college-football-coaching-award.php|archive-date=November 20, 2006|title=College Coaching Award|access-date=October 18, 2006|last=Lang|first=Arne}}</ref><ref name="Spread-2">{{cite web|url=http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/columns/story?columnist=davie&id=2457483|title=Football 101: Mountaineers spread the wealth|access-date=October 18, 2006|last=Davie|first=Bob|date=May 25, 2006 }}</ref><ref name="Spread-3">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/sports/stories/2007/08/09/osufb09.ART_ART_08-09-07_C1_L37IN06.html|access-date=August 9, 2007|title=College football: Spread option remains in vogue|last=May|first=Tim}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=Red Director |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He first developed this offensive approach at [[Glenville State College|Glenville State]] and refined it during his stops at [[Tulane Green Wave football|Tulane]] with [[Shaun King (American football)|Shaun King]], at [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]] with [[Woodrow Dantzler]], and at [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia]] most notably with dual-threat quarterback [[Pat White (American football)|Pat White]]. This strategy features frequent use of the [[shotgun formation]]. Rodriguez is also credited for popularizing the [[zone read]] play run out of the shotgun formation. Per his recollection, in practice, he noted the quarterback seeing a defender honing in on the running back on a planned handoff, and took the ball himself. When Rodriguez asked why the quarterback changed the play, he responded that he read the defender and chose to run a different play than scripted.

==Family==
Rodriguez and his wife, Rita, have two children, Raquel and Rhett.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodriguez_rich00.html |title=Rodriguez bio at |publisher=Mgoblue.com |access-date=September 21, 2010 |archive-date=October 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001034944/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodriguez_rich00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> His grandfather is originally from [[Honduras]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/11/30/rich-rodriguez-arizona-hire/|title=Behind the scenes look at first 48 hours of Rodriguez's Arizona tenure|author=Staples, Andy|work=Inside College Football|publisher=SI.com|date=November 30, 2011|access-date=November 23, 2013}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Salem Tigers football|Salem Tigers]]
| conf = [[West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]]
| startyear = 1988
| startyear = 1988
| endyear = single
| endyear = single
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 1988
| championship =
| team = Salem
| year = [[1988 NAIA Division I football season|1988]]
| overall = 2-8
| name = Salem
| conference = 2-5
| overall = 2–8
| confstanding = 5-T
| conference = 2–5
| confstanding = T–5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Team End
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Salem
| team=Salem| overall=2-8| confrecord=2-5
| overall = 2–8
| confrecord = 2–5
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Team
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| team = Glenville State Pioneers
| name = [[Glenville State Pioneers football|Glenville State Pioneers]]
| conf = WVIAC
| conf = [[West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]]
| startyear = 1990
| startyear = 1990
| endyear = 1996
| endyear = 1996
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 1990
| championship =
| team = Glenville State
| year = [[1990 NAIA Division I football season|1990]]
| overall = 1-7-1
| name = Glenville State
| conference = 1-5
| overall = 1–7–1
| confstanding = 6-T
| conference = 1–5
| confstanding = T–6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 1991
| championship =
| team = Glenville State
| year = [[1991 NAIA Division I football season|1991]]
| overall = 4-5-1
| name = Glenville State
| conference = 3-4
| overall = 4–5–1
| confstanding = 5-T
| conference = 3–4
| confstanding = T–5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 1992
| championship =
| team = Glenville State
| year = [[1992 NAIA Division I football season|1992]]
| overall = 6-4
| name = Glenville State
| conference = 5-2
| overall = 6–4
| confstanding = 3
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 1993
| year = [[1993 NAIA Division I football season|1993]]
| team = Glenville State
| name = Glenville State
| overall = 10-3
| overall = 10–3
| conference = 6-1
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = [[NAIA Football National Championship|NAIA Division I Championship]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 1994
| year = [[1994 NAIA Division I football season|1994]]
| team = Glenville State
| name = Glenville State
| overall = 8-3
| overall = 8–3
| conference = 5-1
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = 1-T
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = [[NAIA Football National Championship|NAIA Division I Quarterfinal]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 1995
| year = [[1995 NCAA Division II football season|1995]]
| team = Glenville State
| name = Glenville State
| overall = 8-2
| overall = 8–2
| conference = 6-1
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1-T
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 1996
| year = [[1996 NCAA Division II football season|1996]]
| team = Glenville State
| name = Glenville State
| overall = 6-4
| overall = 6–4
| conference = 6-1
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1-T
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Team End
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Glenville State
| team=Glenville State| overall=43-28-2| confrecord=32-15
| overall = 43–28–2
| confrecord = 32–15
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Team
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| team = West Virginia Mountaineers
| name = [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia Mountaineers]]
| conf = Big East
| conf = [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]]
| startyear = 2001
| startyear = 2001
| endyear = 2007
| endyear = 2007
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 2001
| championship =
| team = West Virginia
| year = [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
| name = [[2001 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| overall = 3-8
| conference = 1-6
| overall = 3–8
| confstanding = 7
| conference = 1–6
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 2002
| championship =
| team = West Virginia
| year = [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]
| name = [[2002 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| overall = 9-4
| conference = 6-1
| overall = 9–4
| confstanding = 2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlgame = [[Meineke Car Care Bowl|Continental Tire Bowl]]
| bowlopp = [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia]]
| bowlname = [[2002 Continental Tire Bowl|Continental Tire]]
| bowlscore = L, 22-48
| bowloutcome = L
| ranking = 25
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 20
| ranking2 = 25
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 2003
| year = [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]]
| team = West Virginia
| name = [[2003 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| overall = 8-5
| overall = 8–5
| conference = 6-1
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1-T
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlgame = [[Gator Bowl]]
| bowlname = [[2004 Gator Bowl|Gator]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bowlopp = [[University of Maryland athletics|Maryland]]
| bowlscore = L, 7-41
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 2004
| year = [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]]
| team = West Virginia
| name = [[2004 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| overall = 8-4
| overall = 8–4
| conference = 4-2
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = 1-T
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlgame = Gator Bowl
| bowlname = [[2005 Gator Bowl|Gator]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bowlopp = [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]]
| bowlscore = L, 18-30
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 2005
| year = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
| team = West Virginia
| name = [[2005 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| overall = 11-1
| overall = 11–1
| conference = 7-0
| conference = 7–0
| confstanding = 1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlgame = [[Sugar Bowl]]
| bowlname = [[2006 Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
| bowloutcome = W
| bowlopp = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]]
| bowlscore = W, 38-35
| bcsbowl = yes
| bcsbowl = yes
| ranking = 6
| ranking = 5
| ranking2 = 5
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 2006
| championship =
| team = West Virginia
| year = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
| name = [[2006 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| overall = 11-2
| conference = 5-2
| overall = 11–2
| confstanding = 2-T
| conference = 5–2
| bowlgame = Gator Bowl
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlopp = [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets|Georgia Tech]]
| bowlname = [[2007 Gator Bowl|Gator]]
| bowlscore = W, 38-35
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 10
| ranking = 10
| ranking2 = 10
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| championship = conference
| year = 2007
| year = [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]]
| team = West Virginia
| name = [[2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| overall = 10-2*
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 5-2
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 1-T
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = [[2008 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]]{{#tag:ref|Rodriguez left for Michigan after the regular season; assistant coach [[Bill Stewart (American football)|Bill Stewart]] was appointed as interim head coach and led West Virginia in the [[2008 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]].|group="n"|name=2007season}}
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl = yes
| ranking = 9
| ranking2 = 11
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Team End
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = West Virginia
| team=West Virginia| overall=60-26| confrecord=34-14
| overall = 60–26
}}*<small>left before the [[Fiesta Bowl (game)|Fiesta Bowl]] game.
| confrecord = 34–14
{{CFB Coaching Record Team
}}
| team = Michigan Wolverines
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| conf = Big 10
| name = [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan Wolverines]]
| conf = [[Big Ten Conference]]
| startyear = 2008
| startyear = 2008
| endyear = single
| endyear = 2010
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Entry
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 2008
| year = [[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]]
| team = Michigan
| name = [[2008 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]]
| overall = 0-0
| overall = 3–9
| conference = 0-0
| conference = 2–6
| confstanding =
| confstanding = T–9th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Coaching Record Team End
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| team=Michigan| overall=0-0| confrecord=0-0
| year = [[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]]
| name = [[2009 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]]
| overall = 5–7
| conference = 1–7
| confstanding = T–10th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =
{{CFB Coaching Record End
| year = [[2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2010]]
| overall = 104-62-2
| name = [[2010 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]]
| bcs =
| poll =
| overall = 7–6
| polltype = AP Poll
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = T–7th
| bowlname = [[2011 Gator Bowl|Gator]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Michigan
| overall = 15–22
| confrecord = 6–18
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona Wildcats]]
| conf = [[Pac-12 Conference]]
| startyear = 2012
| endyear = 2017
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2012]]
| name = [[2012 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| overall = 8–5
| conference = 4–5
| confstanding = 4th <small>(South)</small>
| bowlname = [[2012 New Mexico Bowl|New Mexico]]
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2013]]
| name = [[2013 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| overall = 8–5
| conference = 4–5
| confstanding = 4th <small>(South)</small>
| bowlname = [[2013 AdvoCare V100 Bowl|AdvoCare V100]]
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = [[2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2014]]
| name = [[2014 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| overall = 10–4
| conference = 7–2
| confstanding = 1st <small>(South)</small>
| bowlname = [[2014 Fiesta Bowl (December)|Fiesta]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl = yes
| ranking = 17
| ranking2 = 19
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2015]]
| name = [[2015 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| overall = 7–6
| conference = 3–6
| confstanding = 5th <small>(South)</small>
| bowlname = [[2015 New Mexico Bowl|New Mexico]]
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2016]]
| name = [[2016 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| overall = 3–9
| conference = 1–8
| confstanding = 6th <small>(South)</small>
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2017]]
| name = [[2017 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| overall = 7–6
| conference = 5–4
| confstanding = 3rd <small>(South)</small>
| bowlname = [[2017 Foster Farms Bowl|Foster Farms]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Arizona
| overall = 43–35
| confrecord = 24–30
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Jacksonville State Gamecocks football|Jacksonville State Gamecocks]]
| conf = [[ASUN Conference]]
| startyear = 2022
| endyear = 2022
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = [[2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season|2022]]
| name = [[2022 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team|Jacksonville State]]
| overall = 9–2
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st{{#tag:ref|Jacksonville State finished the 2022 season with the best record in the [[ASUN Conference]], but was ineligible for the conference title and the postseason due to the program's transition to the [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision]] (FBS).|group="n"|name=2022season}}
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Jacksonville State Gamecocks football|Jacksonville State Gamecocks]]
| conf = [[Conference USA]]
| startyear = 2023
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2023]]
| name = [[2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team|Jacksonville State]]
| overall = 9–4
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname = [[2023 New Orleans Bowl|New Orleans]]
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Jacksonville State
| overall = 18–6
| confrecord = 11–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 181–125–2
| yearstart = 2005
| yearend =
| poll = two
| polltype =
}}
}}


==Notes==
{{start box}}
{{Reflist|group="n"}}
{{succession box | title=[[list of West Virginia University head football coaches|West Virginia Head Football Coach]] | before=[[Don Nehlen]] | years=[[2001]]-[[2007]]| after=[[Bill Stewart (football coach)| Bill Stewart]] }}
{{succession box | title=[[list of University of Michigan head football coaches|Michigan Head Football Coach]] | before=[[Lloyd Carr]] | years=[[2008]]-[[Current]]| after=Incumbent}}
{{end box}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://collegefootballfrenzy.com/?p=12 College Football Frenzy article about Rich Rodriguez - Ralph Friedgen rivalry]
* [https://jsugamecocksports.com/staff-directory/rich-rodriguez/315 Jacksonville State profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111207101732/http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rodriguez_rich00.html Arizona profile]
* {{IMDb name|2894556}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Rich}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Rich}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Marion County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:American football head coaches]]
[[Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football players]]
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[[Category:American football safeties]]
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[[Category:Players of American football from West Virginia]]
[[Category:American people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:People from Grant Town, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Presidents of the American Football Coaches Association]]

Latest revision as of 15:27, 19 March 2024

Rich Rodriguez
Rodriguez with Michigan in 2010
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamJacksonville State
ConferenceC-USA
Record18–6
Biographical details
Born (1963-05-24) May 24, 1963 (age 61)
Grant Town, West Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
1981–1984West Virginia
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1985West Virginia (SA)
1986Salem (DB/ST)
1987Salem (AHC/DC)
1988Salem
1989West Virginia (OLB)
1990–1996Glenville State
1997–1998Tulane (OC/QB)
1999–2000Clemson (OC/QB)
2001–2007West Virginia
2008–2010Michigan
2012–2017Arizona
2019Ole Miss (OC/QB)
2021Louisiana–Monroe (AHC/OC/QB)
2022–presentJacksonville State
Head coaching record
Overall181–125–2
Bowls6–6
Tournaments2–2 (NAIA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
4 Big East (2003–2005, 2007)
4 WVIAC (1993–1996)
1 ASUN Champion (2022)
1 Pac-12 South Division (2014)
1 Atlantic Sun Conference (2022)
Awards
Big East Coach of the Year (2003, 2005)
WVIAC Coach of the Year (1993, 1994)
Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2014)
NAIA Division I Coach of the Year (1993)

Richard Alan Rodriguez (/rɒd.ˈr.ɡjɛz/; born May 24, 1963), also known as Rich Rod, is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Jacksonville State University, a position he has held since the 2022 season. Rodriguez previously was the head football coach at Salem University (1988), Glenville State College (1990–1996), West Virginia University (2001–2007), the University of Michigan (2008–2010), and the University of Arizona (2012–2017). His career head coaching record stands at 181–125–2. In 2011, Rodriguez worked as an analyst for CBS Sports.[1]

Playing career[edit]

A native of Grant Town, West Virginia,[2][3][4][5][6] Rodriguez graduated from North Marion High School in 1981 where he played four sports and was an all-state football and basketball player. After high school, Rodriguez attended West Virginia University. Playing as a defensive back, he recorded 54 career tackles over three seasons.

Coaching career[edit]

West Virginia and Salem[edit]

During the 1985 season, Rodriguez was a student assistant under head coach Don Nehlen and graduated with a Physical Education degree. In 1986, he was hired by Salem College (now Salem International University) where he was special teams coordinator and secondary coach. In 1987, he became Salem’s defensive coordinator and in 1988 took over as head coach. At 25 years old, he was the youngest college head coach in the country. He was 2–8 in his first season as head coach, after which the college announced it was dropping its football program.

In 1989, he returned to West Virginia University as a volunteer assistant.

Glenville State, Tulane, and Clemson[edit]

After Rodriguez's return to WVU as a volunteer coach with the outside linebackers for the 1989 football season, he left again to take over as head coach at Glenville State College. During his stay from 1990 to 1996, the team earned three consecutive West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) championships and competed in the 1993 NAIA national championship. His first season, 1990, he led the team to a 1–7 record. In 1991, Glenville improved to 4–5–1, then 6–4 season; in 1993, Rodriguez led Glenville to a 10–3 record and the WVIAC Championship and NAIA runner-up. The next two years, 1994 and 1995, Glenville finished as WVIAC Co-Champions. In Rodriguez's final season at Glenville, 1996, he led them to a Co-Championship once again. While at Glenville, Rodriguez compiled a record of 43–28–2 and was named WVIAC Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994, NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1993, and West Virginia State College Coach of the Year in 1993 by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Glenville State's four championships under Rodriguez were their first since 1959 while his players' set five national career records for Division II.

Rodriguez left Glenville State at the end of the 1996 season to be assistant coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback coach for Tulane University from 1997 to 1998, under head coach Tommy Bowden. Rodriguez knew Bowden's father, Bobby Bowden, because he had worked at his camps during summers. In Rodriguez's first year as offensive coordinator his innovative offense succeeded as Tulane went 7–4 and had their best season since 1980.[7] Rodriguez was part of Tulane's success, including their 12–0 season in Rodriguez's last season at Tulane, mainly for his spread offense with quarterback Shaun King. When Bowden was hired as the head coach at Clemson University, he kept Rodriguez on his staff. Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator and associate head coach until the end of the 2000 season. Rodriguez was considered to be the frontrunner for the Tulane coaching job following Bowden's departure and was led to believe that he was going to be the next coach for Tulane. However, Chris Scelfo was hired instead.[8]

In 1999, Rodriguez interviewed for the head coaching job at Texas Tech but lost to Mike Leach.[9][10]

West Virginia[edit]

On November 26, 2000, WVU's athletic department announced that Rodriguez would again return to West Virginia, this time as head coach to replace the retiring Don Nehlen. Rodriguez's first season at West Virginia, 2001, was a disappointing 3–8. However, they improved greatly the next year, as they went 9–4 while finishing as a runner-up in the Big East Conference; this also included back-to-back road wins against ranked Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh, and a Continental Tire Bowl berth, where they lost to ACC runner-up in Virginia. The Mountaineers finished second in the nation rushing with 283 yards per game and fourth in turnover margin. In 2003, the Mountaineers started the season 1–4, and after losing to #2 Miami 22–20, the Mountaineers posted a 6–1 Big East record and tied for the Big East championship with Miami, earning a Gator Bowl berth. That season, the Mountaineers replaced 22 seniors, eleven of which were starters. In 2004, the Mountaineers posted an 8–4 record with a talented team of seniors and juniors, but were ranked as high as sixth during the regular season.

Following the 2002 season, Rodriguez was awarded the Big East Coach of the Year by Sporting News and state college coach of the year for all sports by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. He also received the 2003 Frank Loria Award from the West Virginia chapter of the National Football Foundation, and also earned Big East Coach of the Year that season. In 2005, he was offered to join the AFCA Board of Directors, and that same season was again given Big East Coach of the Year honors. In 2005, Rodriguez and the Mountaineers won the Big East title with freshman tandem Steve Slaton and Patrick White, thus claiming the conference's automatic berth in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), where they defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the Nokia Sugar Bowl and a final Associated Press ranking of fifth, tying the highest in school history (other in 1988).

2006[edit]

Repeating their 2005 success, West Virginia posted another 11-win season, the first consecutive 10-win seasons in school history. The Mountaineers defeated Georgia Tech, 38–35, in the 2007 Gator Bowl and finished 10th in the final polls.

On December 7, 2006, Rodriguez received an offer to be the next Alabama Crimson Tide head coach. Despite reports that he had agreed in principle to coach at Alabama,[11] which Rodriguez described as totally incorrect,[12][13] on December 8, 2006, Rodriguez announced he would remain as head coach at West Virginia.[14]

2007[edit]

The Mountaineers started the 2007 season ranked #3 in the AP Poll and #6 in the Coaches' Poll. They were #5 in the nation, before losing to #18 South Florida for the second consecutive time. South Florida eventually moved to #2, before dropping out of the Top 25 after losses (though USF would end the regular season ranked at #21). West Virginia dropped to #12 and #13 in the AP and Coaches' poll, respectively, before rebounding with wins against Syracuse, Mississippi State, #25 Rutgers, Louisville, and #21 Cincinnati. The Mountaineers eventually defeated #20 Connecticut to clinch the Big East Championship and move to #2 in the BCS standings and #1 in the Coaches' poll, both the highest position ever for a Mountaineer football team. WVU's regular season ended at home with a loss in the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh, 13-9. After the departure of Rodriguez, the Mountaineers went on to defeat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl under interim head coach Bill Stewart.

Departure from West Virginia[edit]

On December 16, 2007, Rodriguez informed players at West Virginia that he was leaving to succeed Lloyd Carr as the University of Michigan head football coach.[15] Rodriguez's loss earlier that night to the unranked Pittsburgh Panthers eliminated WVU from national championship contention.[16] Rodriguez's original resignation letter listed January 3, 2008, as his resignation date, but he subsequently made it clear that he would not be coaching WVU in its January 2 appearance in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl versus Oklahoma. On December 18, 2007, Rodriguez informed the university that his resignation would instead be effective at midnight that night[17] and was replaced by his former assistant coach Bill Stewart, who was selected as head coach after the Mountaineers won the Fiesta Bowl.[18]

The announcement of his departure came just four months after Rodriguez last renegotiated his contract with West Virginia and was made despite his stated long-term commitment to the Mountaineers. The contract included a $4 million buyout if he left WVU within one year of the August 2007 signing date. It has since been speculated that Rodriguez's departure was triggered by conflicts with the new president of WVU, Michael Garrison.[19][20] Some insight into the discontent between Rodriguez and WVU is evidenced in a compendium of emails that were released to the Associated Press on January 23, 2008.[21] An Associated Press story indicated that Rodriguez's agent Mike Brown was threatening to take his client elsewhere early in the 2007 season.[22]

On December 27, 2007, West Virginia University filed a motion for declaratory judgment in Monongalia County Circuit Court, asking the court to find that Rodriguez's contract with the University was valid, that WVU had not breached that contract, and that Rodriguez had breached it. Subsequently, on January 18, 2008, WVU added a count of breach of contract after Rodriguez allegedly failed to pay the first installment of the $4 million liquidated damages clause (often referred to as a "buyout clause" by the media) when due.[23][24][21][25]

On July 9, 2008, Rodriguez and WVU agreed to settle the lawsuit. The terms of the settlement stated that the University of Michigan would pay $2.5 million of the settlement. Rodriguez was required to pay WVU the remaining $1.5 million in three installments of $500,000 each, spread over three years starting in January 2010.[26]

An opinion poll in September 2013 by Public Policy Polling found that 47% of West Virginia voters still had an unfavorable opinion of him, with only 11% seeing him favorably.[27]

Michigan[edit]

Rodriguez & Tate Forcier during spring practice on April 11, 2009.

Rodriguez was introduced by Michigan as its new coach at a news conference held on December 17, 2007, at the Junge Family Champions Center on the University of Michigan campus. After arriving at Michigan, Rodriguez installed a new staff. He brought several members of his West Virginia staff with him, including Tony Gibson and offensive coordinator Calvin Magee. Fred Jackson, the running backs coach, was the only coaching holdover from Lloyd Carr's staff. Rodriguez also changed the strength and conditioning facilities, completed a top ten incoming recruiting class in 2008 (which was recruited mainly by Carr and his staff), and installed his own recruiting to serve his spread offense.[15] Equipment manager Jon Falk also stayed with the Michigan football program; he had been with Michigan since the days of Bo Schembechler.

Rodriguez began his Michigan coaching career on August 30, 2008, with a 25–23 loss to Utah. His 2008 team finished with a record of 3–9, the worst season in school history.[28] Michigan's losing record meant that the team did not play in a post-season bowl game for the first time in 33 years, the longest such streak in college football up to that point. One of the few high points of the season came on September 27 when Michigan made the second-largest comeback in program history to defeat #9 Wisconsin 27–25 after trailing 19–0 late in the third quarter. That contest was also the 500th game played in Michigan Stadium.

Players leaving and criticism[edit]

Several Michigan players transferred and subsequently criticized Rodriguez. Justin Boren transferred from the program to rival Ohio State citing offensive behavior and a "lack of family values" from the coaching staff.[29][30][31][32] Boren became first team all Big Ten at Ohio State University in the 2009 season.[33] Others have supported the assertion about a lack of family values, including Detroit Free Press writer Michael Rosenberg, who stated "Rodriguez's staff uses some of the foulest, most degrading language imaginable. I know coaches curse, and I'm no prude, but this goes way beyond a few dirty words. This is a big part of why offensive lineman Justin Boren left the team. He felt his dignity was at stake."[34] Former Michigan player Kurt Wermers claimed to not get along with coaches after transferring following the 2008 season to Ball State University, but he was, in fact, academically ineligible at the time of his transfer, calling into question the credibility of his claim.[35]

NCAA rule violations[edit]

Rich Rodriguez gives an interview in Beaver Stadium before the day of the 2010 Michigan vs. Penn State game

Prior to the 2009 season several anonymous players told journalists (including Rosenberg) at the Detroit Free Press that Rodriguez and his coaching staff had habitually violated NCAA rules. The alleged offenses included attending unofficial scrimmages and requiring players to work out more hours than NCAA rules permit for the off-season. Rodriguez denied the allegations.[36] On October 27, 2009, the NCAA sent a Notice of Inquiry to the University of Michigan stating the NCAA found reasonably reliable information indicating NCAA rule violations.[37] Following the Notice, the investigation into potential major violations continued. On November 16, 2009, the University of Michigan Auditors looking into the NCAA violations discovered that University of Michigan Athletic Department staff failed to file monthly logs that track how much players work out and practice.[38][39]

Then on February 22, 2010, the NCAA formally accused Michigan of five "major rules violations" after finding that the team and its coaching staff failed to comply with practice time rules under coach Rich Rodriguez, and used several graduate assistants in coaching position in contravention of NCAA regulations on the limits of the number of coaches.[40] This marked the first time that major violations have been alleged against the Michigan football program. All of the violations dated from January 2008 forward, which coincided with Rodriguez's arrival at Michigan. The University of Michigan has acknowledged that it committed four major violations in its football program.[41] This resulted in U-M self-imposing sanctions which including cutting practice time and either disciplining or terminating staff, as well as two years probation. The final NCAA report downgraded the list of violations originally investigated, agreed with Michigan's self-imposed sanctions, but added an extra year of probation.[42]

Eventual departure[edit]

Despite the setbacks of his inaugural season, Rodriguez compiled a recruiting class for the 2009 season which was ranked eighth nationally by Rivals.com. Tom Dienhart, writing for Sports Illustrated, named Rodriguez the second best football coach in the Big Ten Conference behind only Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and ahead of more tenured coaches such as Penn State's Joe Paterno and Ohio State's Jim Tressel.[43]

Under Rodriguez, the Wolverines opened the 2009 season with a 31–7 win against Western Michigan followed by wins over rival Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan. Following these three victories, two over weak mid-major opponents, Michigan opened its Big Ten schedule with a 36–33 win against Indiana. However, Michigan finished the season with a 5–7 (1–7 in the Big Ten) record after road losses to Michigan State, and the Iowa Hawkeyes and a 25-point home loss to Penn State followed by a 25-point loss to the University of Illinois and a 38–36 loss at home to Purdue. Rodriguez ended the 2009 season with a 21–10 loss to rival Ohio State. This loss eliminated the Wolverines from bowl competition for the second year in a row.

The 2010 season got off to a similar start to the 2009 campaign, with the Wolverines winning their first five games of the season. Michigan started the season off by notching a win over Connecticut, who eventually won a share of the Big East title and went on to represent the conference in a BCS bowl. By week three, the team earned a spot in the AP Top 25 at #20 and USA Today Poll at #22. Their highest AP ranking, #18, came before recording their first loss of the season against 17-ranked in-state foe and eventual Big Ten co-champion Michigan State (part of a three-way tie). The team finished Big Ten play with a 3–5 record, including a 37–7 loss against arch-rival Ohio State. This caused further criticism of Rodriguez, for failing to restore competitiveness to one of college football's greatest rivalries. Still, Michigan had earned a 7–5 record and, for the first time under Rodriguez, were bowl eligible.

The season included such highlights as a spectacular 67–65 comeback win over Illinois in triple overtime on November 6 and a special talent in sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson who in 12 games passed for 2,316 yards and rushed for 1,643 yards while accounting for 30 rushing and passing touchdowns. Rodriguez led Michigan to its first New Year's Day bowl since the 2007 season when Michigan accepted a bid to play in the Gator Bowl. However, Michigan's 38-point loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl was the worst bowl loss in school history.[44]

Due to the team's disappointing season after such a promising start, and another loss to Ohio State, Rodriguez finished the regular season campaign amidst speculation that he would not return for the 2011 season. Rumors about Rodriguez's ousting heated up after the season, when Stanford Cardinal head coach and former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh did not attend an anniversary dinner recognizing the 1985 Michigan team.[45] Harbaugh had been rumored to replace Rodriguez in seasons past.

At Michigan, Rodriguez suffered a 20-point home loss to a Big Ten opponent in all three seasons he coached (most recently against Wisconsin, a 48–28 loss).[46] In his first two years, Rodriguez had no wins in October against Football Bowl Subdivision teams and did not record a win against such an opponent until the 2010 season, recording a road victory over Indiana.[45] At Michigan, Rodriguez had a 2–7 record against the Wolverines' three regular season rivals: Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan State,[45] recording victories against Notre Dame in the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.

Media circus outside of Schembechler Hall after news broke that Rich Rodriguez had been fired as University of Michigan head coach on Jan 5, 2011

Rodriguez was rumored to be let go as Michigan coach on January 4, 2011. School officials initially denied this, but the following day, athletic director Dave Brandon announced that Rodriguez had been dismissed.[47][48] Rodriguez has the lowest winning percentage (.405) of any coach in Michigan football's history. He also went 0–3 against Ohio State (outscored 100–24) and 0–3 against Michigan State. He oversaw the end of the longest active bowl streak in the NCAA. Recruiting also took a significant downturn during the Rodriguez era which would have an impact for the years following his tenure at Michigan.

Rodriguez worked as an analyst for CBS Sports for most of the 2011 season before being hired to coach at Arizona. He had previously participated in CBS's 2011 Signing Day Coverage. When asked if he regretted moving to Michigan, he said: "I think it's easy to go back now and say, 'Gee, [I] made a mistake.' And you can say that now because of hindsight. But at the time, some of the things I was looking to do and the opportunity that was there, you kind of make the move....but you know hindsight is always easier to look back and say, 'it was a mistake.' Because we did have a good thing going at West Virginia, and we really enjoyed it. As you look back at it, [it] wasn't the best move. Easy to say now." When asked if he would ever return to coaching, Rodriguez said, "I'm open to another opportunity, but we'll see. Here, that window looks like it's closed, but if something comes open after this season, and it seems like it may be a good opportunity for me and someone is interested, I'm sure I'll look into it."[49]

In June 2011, Rodriguez put the family home in York Township, Michigan up for sale for an asking price of $1.9 million.[50][51]

The tumultuous three years with Michigan was chronicled in great detail in Three and Out, written by John U. Bacon. Bacon was given full insider access from the start of the 2008 season all the way through the search for Rodriguez's successor. The book also covers Rich Rodriguez's career before coming to Michigan, including the buyout from West Virginia.

Arizona[edit]

Following Rodriguez's tenure at CBS, he was hired as the 30th head coach of the Arizona Wildcats football program on November 21, 2011. His hiring was first announced by University of Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne on Twitter[52] while a press conference officially announcing him as the head coach was held a day later at McKale Center in Tucson.[53] Rodriguez's hiring ended a 41-day search for a head coach which started after Mike Stoops was dismissed after eight seasons as Wildcat head coach.

2012[edit]

In Rodriguez's first season at Arizona, the Wildcats finished the season 8–5 with a win over Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl. The season, which included Arizona running back Ka'Deem Carey breaking the school single-season records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, was Rodriguez' first winning debut season and first bowl appearance in a debut season. It also tied Jim Young for the most wins in an Arizona coach's debut season.

2013[edit]

The Wildcats posted an 8–5 record in Rodriguez' second season as head coach. The season saw the emergence of star running back Carey and was capped with a victory over Boston College in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl.

2014[edit]

In his third year, Rodriguez led the Wildcats to their first 5–0 start and top 10 ranking since 1998 after beating No. 2 Oregon 31–24. He then lost his first game to Southern California and subsequently lost to UCLA. After compiling an 0–2 mark against in-state arch-rival Arizona State his first two years, Rodriguez's Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils, 42–35 in 2014 to win the Pac-12 South Division, the first divisional championship in program history.

The Wildcats advanced to the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where they were defeated by their conference rivals, the Oregon Ducks, 51–13 (despite winning the regular season match-up).[54] The Wildcats then played in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, the school's third major-bowl appearance, where they faced the Boise State Broncos. Arizona lost the game to Boise State, 38–30. Under Coach Rodriguez, the Wildcats finished the 2014 season with a record of 10–4 (7–2 Pac-12), achieving only the second 10-win regular season in program history; the Wildcats also finished the season ranked #17 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and #19 in the AP Poll.

2017[edit]

In what turned out to be his final game at Arizona, he coached the Wildcats to a 38-35 loss against Purdue in the 2017 Foster Farms Bowl on December 27, 2017.

Firing[edit]

Rodriguez's former administrative assistant filed a multimillion-dollar claim accusing him of sexually harassing her and creating a hostile work environment for years.[55] Rodriguez was fired on January 2, 2018, after a three-month internal investigation by the Arizona Wildcats.[56][55] He admitted to having an extramarital affair, but denied all allegations of other sexual misconduct.[56] The lawsuit filed by his former administrative assistant was dismissed in September 2019. [57]

Ole Miss[edit]

On December 31, 2018, it was announced that Rodriguez accepted the offensive coordinator position at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), joining newly hired defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre (recently fired head coach at Colorado) on the staff of head coach Matt Luke. He received a three-year contract. After Matt Luke was fired in December 2019, new head coach Lane Kiffin did not offer a contract to Rodriguez. [58]

Louisiana–Monroe[edit]

On January 12, 2021, it was announced that Rodriguez had accepted the offensive coordinator position at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Jacksonville State[edit]

On November 30, 2021, Rodriguez was introduced as the new head coach of the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.[59]

Spread option[edit]

Rodriguez is considered a pioneer of a no huddle, run-oriented version of the spread offense, although a pass-first version was already being implemented by others.[60][61][62] He first developed this offensive approach at Glenville State and refined it during his stops at Tulane with Shaun King, at Clemson with Woodrow Dantzler, and at West Virginia most notably with dual-threat quarterback Pat White. This strategy features frequent use of the shotgun formation. Rodriguez is also credited for popularizing the zone read play run out of the shotgun formation. Per his recollection, in practice, he noted the quarterback seeing a defender honing in on the running back on a planned handoff, and took the ball himself. When Rodriguez asked why the quarterback changed the play, he responded that he read the defender and chose to run a different play than scripted.

Family[edit]

Rodriguez and his wife, Rita, have two children, Raquel and Rhett.[63] His grandfather is originally from Honduras.[64]

Head coaching record[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Salem Tigers (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1988)
1988 Salem 2–8 2–5 T–5th
Salem: 2–8 2–5
Glenville State Pioneers (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1990–1996)
1990 Glenville State 1–7–1 1–5 T–6th
1991 Glenville State 4–5–1 3–4 T–5th
1992 Glenville State 6–4 5–2 3rd
1993 Glenville State 10–3 6–1 1st L NAIA Division I Championship
1994 Glenville State 8–3 5–1 T–1st L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal
1995 Glenville State 8–2 6–1 T–1st
1996 Glenville State 6–4 6–1 T–1st
Glenville State: 43–28–2 32–15
West Virginia Mountaineers (Big East Conference) (2001–2007)
2001 West Virginia 3–8 1–6 7th
2002 West Virginia 9–4 6–1 2nd L Continental Tire 20 25
2003 West Virginia 8–5 6–1 T–1st L Gator
2004 West Virginia 8–4 4–2 T–1st L Gator
2005 West Virginia 11–1 7–0 1st W Sugar 6 5
2006 West Virginia 11–2 5–2 T–2nd W Gator 10 10
2007 West Virginia 10–2 5–2 T–1st Fiesta[n 1] 9 11
West Virginia: 60–26 34–14
Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten Conference) (2008–2010)
2008 Michigan 3–9 2–6 T–9th
2009 Michigan 5–7 1–7 T–10th
2010 Michigan 7–6 3–5 T–7th L Gator
Michigan: 15–22 6–18
Arizona Wildcats (Pac-12 Conference) (2012–2017)
2012 Arizona 8–5 4–5 4th (South) W New Mexico
2013 Arizona 8–5 4–5 4th (South) W AdvoCare V100
2014 Arizona 10–4 7–2 1st (South) L Fiesta 17 19
2015 Arizona 7–6 3–6 5th (South) W New Mexico
2016 Arizona 3–9 1–8 6th (South)
2017 Arizona 7–6 5–4 3rd (South) L Foster Farms
Arizona: 43–35 24–30
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (ASUN Conference) (2022)
2022 Jacksonville State 9–2 5–0 1st[n 2]
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (Conference USA) (2023–present)
2023 Jacksonville State 9–4 6–2 3rd W New Orleans
Jacksonville State: 18–6 11–2
Total: 181–125–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Rodriguez left for Michigan after the regular season; assistant coach Bill Stewart was appointed as interim head coach and led West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.
  2. ^ Jacksonville State finished the 2022 season with the best record in the ASUN Conference, but was ineligible for the conference title and the postseason due to the program's transition to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

References[edit]

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External links[edit]