Rich Rodriguez : All posts

The Huge Show: Brady Hoke vs. Rich Rodriguez? Dave Brandon says that's 'false'

Brady Hoke vs. Rich Rodriguez?

Rodriguez, a former Michigan football coach, made some waves shortly after being hired at Arizona last winter when he reportedly suggested he'd like a chance to take on his old team.

The former Wolverine boss admitted he was "just teasing" about that idea, but if it did happen, then that would be "great."

Earlier this week on "The Huge Show" with host Bill Simonson, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon officially squashed any Hoke-Rodriguez matchup talk.

"False," Brandon said when asked if he'd been in any discussions with Arizona for a non-conference game down the road. "We have other teams we want to play."

Rich Rodriguez, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer and Woody Hayes make ESPN's list of 'most hated' coaches

Ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel joined former Michigan boss Rich Rodriguez on ESPN's 10 'most hated' coaches list.

Associated Press

Three Buckeyes and one former Wolverine are among the most hated coaches in college football history, says one ESPN scribe.

Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez was joined by ex-Ohio State coaches Jim Tressel and Woody Hayes, as well as current OSU coach Urban Meyer, on ESPN's list of the 10 "most hated" college football coaches of all time.

"West Virginia fans absolutely loved Rodriguez, a former WVU defensive back, when he guided the Mountaineers to 60 victories and two BCS bowl games from 2001 to 2007," writes ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach. "But WVU fans literally drove Rodriguez and his family from his native state after he abruptly left the school to become Michigan’s coach in 2008.

"Wolverines fans don’t like him too much, either, after Rodriguez went 15-22 in three seasons."

Rich Rodriguez: It was 'hard to watch' Denard Robinson, Michigan football last season

Michigan fired Rich Rodriguez after a 15-22 record and a 52-14 Gator Bowl loss to Mississippi State.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The former Michigan football coach went deep into Florida and was able to snag the Deerfield Beach star, largely because Robinson himself wanted to play quarterback.

Under Rodriguez, he went on to set an NCAA record for rushing yards by a quarterback in 2010, his first season as a starter. Then, Rodriguez was fired.

Arizona Daily Wildcat: Ex-Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez deals with arrests of 4 Arizona players

Rich Rodriguez

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Three of the four players — cornerback Jourdon Grandon, offensive linemen Fabbians Ebbele and Eric Bender — were charged with criminal trespassing and assault, according to the Arizona Daily Wildcat, the student newspaper at the university. The fourth, safety Jared Tevis, was arrested by Tucson police for trespassing. All are sophomores.

Rodriguez took over as coach at Arizona in November, taking over a Wildcats program coming off a 3-8 season.

Five players were at a party and were asked to leave because four of them were not invited, the Daily Wildcat reported.

From the Daily Wildcat:

One of the men responded by shoving one of the women backwards. The man was later identified as former safety Joshua Robbins. After being shoved, the resident slapped Robbins, who then proceeded to punch her in the face — starting a brawl between the football players and members of the party. The players left after the brawl, but before leaving said, “We will be back with our homies.” A short time later, the players returned “in a group of between 10 and 30,” and a man later identified as sophomore offensive tackle Fabbians Ebbele forcibly entered the home and “began punching everybody he could reach,” according to the report, including the resident who was initially assaulted and her brother.

azcentral.com: Rich Rodriguez's newest staff member a familiar face to 2 Michigan football players

Recruiting high school teammates Craig Roh and Taylor Lewan paid off twice for former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez.

First, he convinced Roh, a defensive end/linebacker, and Lewan, an offensive lineman, to leave their home state of Arizona and play at Michigan, where they both are key contributors in the Wolverines' 10-2 season.

Now Roh and Lewan's former high school coach, Charlie Ragle, is part of Rodriguez's new staff at Arizona, azcentral.com reports.

Ragle, who compiled a 63-7 record in five seasons at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., was named today as the assistant director of football operations at Arizona.

"I think anything you do in life is based on relationships," Ragle said, according to azcentral.com. "... In 2008, we established a relationship. We spent time with their staff. He had already gotten our kids. He had gotten to see our program from the inside out and had never forgotten it."

Michigan great Desmond Howard compares failed Rich Rodriguez era to Cherry Coke

LIVONIA -- The Michigan football team's postseason banquet had a redemptive feel to it after the Wolverines' 10-2 season and return to prominence this year.

The flip side of redemption, though, is that redeeming was needed, and reminders of the failed Rich Rodriguez era were unavoidable Monday night at the team's annual bust, which was hosted by Laurel Manor in Livonia.

It started with the keynote address by Michigan great Desmond Howard, who heavily criticized the fired coach.

The Huge Show: Rich Rodriguez: I would have gone 'at least' 10-2 this year as Michigan football coach

Brady Hoke earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors and has been nominated for multiple national coach of the year awards for turning around the Michigan football team this year.

He led the Wolverines to a 10-2 record and Sugar Bowl berth, and has been credited with resurrecting the program after a rocky three-year tenure by former coach Rich Rodriguez.

Thing is, Rodriguez thinks he could have done the same thing.

"Yep ... at least," Rodriguez told radio host Bill Simonson of "The Huge Show" on Thursday, when asked if the Wolverines would have won 10 games under him this year.

"That's just being confident, and things going the right way. Their coaches have done a terrific job, but it's just frustrating for me to watch at times because those are all my guys. I'm happy for them. I would've liked to have been there to share it with them, but I'm in a great place now. I've moved on."

Ex-Michigan assistant Rod Smith to join Rich Rodriguez at Arizona

Ex-Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez is putting his band back together in the desert.

Less than a week after hiring three former Wolverine assistant coaches to join him at Arizona, Rodriguez has now hired former Michigan quarterbacks coach Rod Smith as his co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to the university.

FootballScoop.com: Report: 3 ex-Michigan football staffers to join Rich Rodriguez in Arizona

Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez has landed in the desert, and now it appears he's bringing a few familiar friends with him.

FootballScoop.com reported Sunday that Rodriguez is set to hire former Michigan assistant coaches Tony Dews, Calvin Magee and Tony Gibson to his new staff at Arizona.

Arizona Daily Star: Ex-Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez to his new boss: How about a game against the Wolverines?

Rich Rodriguez

Arizona vs. Michigan? Rich Rodriguez vs. Brady Hoke?

Rodriguez, the former Michigan football coach who is the newly hired coach at Arizona is open to that matchup. And Rodriguez already has planted the seed with his boss.

From the Arizona Daily Star:

UA athletic director Greg Byrne said Thursday he and the Wildcats' new coach discussed playing Michigan, which fired Rodriguez after the 2010 season. "He brought it up like, 'Hey, let's look at this down the road,'" Byrne said. "I said, 'Sure.'" Byrne said the conversation lasted 10 seconds. He has yet to contact the Wolverines. "It's a two-way path to play a game," he said.

Byrne isn't the first person to mention the desire for an Arizona-Michigan game. J.T. Curtis, one of the most prominent high school football coaches in Louisiana, said he, too, spoke to Rodriguez, who said he wouldn't mind seeing the game in a few years.

Michigan does not have an open date until the 2014 season.

Arizona board of regents approves Rich Rodriguez contract

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SI.com: Behind the scenes of Arizona hiring ex-Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez

The press conference at Arizona introducing Rich Rodriguez as the Wildcats' new football coach was the end of a long hiring process.

Sports Illustrated writer Andy Staples provides the behind-the-scenes details of how the former Michigan football coach wound up at Arizona.

Among the details: Urban Meyer played a role in Arizona's interest in Rodriguez; Rodriguez had to take a test on NCAA rules; expect strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis to make the move to Arizona.

Ready to see Rich Rodriguez and Arizona take on the Michigan football team?

How's this for entertainment value? Imagine the Michigan football team playing Arizona and Rich Rodriguez.

Associated Press

Maybe you've never heard of J.T. Curtis.

He's the football coach at John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, La., and he's won 500 games. He's made plenty of contacts in his 43 seasons. Among them: Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez.

So when Curtis spoke to the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club earlier this week, he spoke about Rodriguez's decision to turn down the offer to coach at Tulane and accept the head coaching job at Arizona.

"My understanding is, in talking with coach Rich Rodriguez, and I was involved in that just a little bit, that it was a much closer decision than people realize, between Tulane and Arizona," Curtis said.

Curtis said Rodriguez felt he'd have a better chance at recruiting top talent and chasing a national title at Arizona. And one more thing helped sway Rodriguez.

"And they promised him they’d put Michigan on the schedule in three years," Curtis said.

Some in the audience laughed, but Curtis wasn't smiling.

"I'm telling you, it was a big deal."

J.T. CURTIS' ADDRESS TO THE NEW ORLEANS QUARTERBACK CLUB

With poll: Rich Rodriguez introduced as Arizona's new football coach

Rich Rodriguez on being Arizona's new football coach: "I'm at a pretty neat place."

Associated Press

The University of Arizona introduced Rich Rodriguez as its new football coach Tuesday, and it welcomed fans and media members to the show.

Rodriguez, just over 10 months removed from when he was fired after three seasons and a 15-22 record at Michigan, smiled and appeared relaxed as he took questions.

John U. Bacon, author of book on Rich Rodriguez: Ex-Michigan coach will compete for national titles at Arizona

How will former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez do at Arizona? One key will be to watch how he forms his staff.

Perhaps no one outside the Michigan football program better understands Rich Rodriguez, or his tenure with the Wolverines, than John U. Bacon.

The local author and instructor was embedded in the program for all three of Rodriguez's tumultuous seasons with the Wolverines, cultivated a personal relationship with the coach and captured those insights in his book "Three and Out," which has become a New York Times bestseller since dropping Oct. 25.

So, what does Bacon think about Rodriguez's hire at Arizona, which was announced via Twitter late Monday night?

"He'll compete for a Pac-12 title in as soon as three years, and national titles thereafter," Bacon said by phone Monday night from a book tour stop in Cleveland.

It's official: Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez hired by Arizona

Previous story: Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez taking over at Arizona, reports say

It was only a matter of time before Rich Rodriguez landed on his feet.

Turns out, it took him less than a season before finding his way to the desert.

The former embattled Michigan football coach, who was fired by the Wolverines last winter shortly after completing a tumultuous three-year stint with a 52-14 loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl, was hired by Arizona on Monday night.

Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez taking over at Arizona, reports say

Updated story: It's official: Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez hired by Arizona

Reports are circulating that former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez has agreed to be the next coach at Arizona.

A source told The Associated Press that the hiring was "pretty much" done, but that no official announcement was coming immediately. The person spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because contract details were still being finalized.

Arizona spokesman Tom Duddleston told the AP he had no information on a hiring and athletic director Greg Byrne did not immediately return messages left on his cell phone.

Bruce Feldman, a columnist and commentator for CBS Sports, tweeted the following at 5:19 p.m. Monday: “Expect Rich Rodriguez to be named the Arizona head coach in the next 48 hours according to sources.”

Rich Rodriguez draws cheers from Tulane fans; could he return to New Orleans?

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CBS Sports video: West Virginia wants out of its deal with the Big East and that amuses Rich Rodriguez

West Virginia doesn't want to wait 27 months to leave the Big East Conference for the Big 12. So the university filed suit Monday against the Big East.

Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez, now an analyst for CBS Sports, found that amusing when the subject came up on "Inside College Football." Rodriguez, of course, paid a portion of the $4 million buyout of his West Virginia contract when he left the Mountaineers to go to Michigan. He fought the buyout, but lost.

Q&A: John U. Bacon on a 3-year book project, Rich Rodriguez, and reactions to 'Three and Out'

John U. Bacon

John Shultz

“Three and Out,” written by Ann Arbor author, speaker and instructor John U. Bacon, went on sale this week. As of Thursday, it was No. 24 on the Amazon.com Top 100 and the No. 1 seller in the sports category.

“I got a one-year advance for a three-year project, so, to come back to even would be nice, and that involves sales, obviously,” said Bacon, who is making the rounds of radio shows and appearances to support the book.

Bacon, who will teach the history of college athletics course in the School of Education at the University of Michigan in January, sat down this week for a 20-minute question-and-answer session about “Three and Out.” He talked about Rodriguez, how Michigan reacted to a news story that launched an NCAA investigation, player personalities and more. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

Read the review of "Three and Out."