The University of Arizona fired football coach Rich Rodriguez Tuesday, according to a UA press release.
No exact reason was given for the school’s decision, though the university will honor the separation terms of Rodriguez’s contract, which include a $10.2 million buyout, according to USA Today.
Director of Athletics Dave Heeke cited the school’s investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Rodriguez, which began in October.
That investigation, according to Heeke, did not find that Rodriguez posed any danger to members of the community, though the alleged victim chose to pursue further litigation.
“As a result, we have been reviewing the findings and deliberating our course of action. While this is a difficult decision, it is the right decision. And it is a decision that lives up to the core values of the University of Arizona,” Heeke said.
Update: Rodriguez took to Twitter Tuesday to release a statement regarding the UA’s investigation.
He discussed a complaint by a former administrative assistant, who threatened to file a $7.5 million lawsuit alleging harassment.
Rodriguez said he cooperated with the 10-week-long investigation, taking a voluntary polygraph test, which he passed.
He admitted to have an extramarital affair with a woman not affiliated with the university and expressed regret for his conduct.
“It was wrong, and I have apologized to my wife and family. I am still working incredibly hard to repair the bonds I’ve broken and regain the trust of my wife and children, whom i love dearly,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez thanked his staff and players for their commitment and effort during his tenure, and vowed to fight against the claims made against him going forward.
There is no timetable for naming Rodriguez’s replacement, though the National Signing Day for high school players is Feb. 7.
Here’s the UA statement:
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Today is a difficult day for the University of Arizona but also a day on which we reaffirm our commitment to our values — and to ourselves.
This evening, we informed Head Football Coach Rich Rodriguez that we have terminated his employment effective immediately and will honor the separation terms of his contract. The decision is based on several factors, including the direction and climate of our football program.
Let us share with you what we are able to at this time.
In October 2017, the University’s Office of Institutional Equity retained outside counsel to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against Mr. Rodriguez, after a former employee in the Department of Athletics alleged that Mr. Rodriguez harassed her on multiple occasions. Like all University employees, Mr. Rodriguez is entitled to a fair investigation and due process and at no time has the University believed that Mr. Rodriguez posed any danger to a member of the community.
The law firm of Cohen Dowd Quigley was retained by the Office of Institutional Equity to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations made by the former employee, and that investigation began in October. After her initial report to the University in October, the former employee retained counsel and declined multiple requests from the University to participate in the investigation into her allegations. In addition, she was unwilling to turn over communications that she alleged provided support for her allegations and recently filed a notice of a financial claim against Mr. Rodriguez.
The investigation, which concluded on December 28, 2017, found that the original specific harassment allegations against Mr. Rodriguez could not be substantiated based on the evidence and witnesses available to it. However, Arizona Athletics did become aware of information, both before and during the investigation, which caused it to be concerned with the direction and climate of the football program.
As a result, we have been reviewing the findings and deliberating our course of action. While this is a difficult decision, it is the right decision. And it is a decision that lives up to the core values of the University of Arizona.
We have outstanding young men in our football program and tremendous employees who will continue to work hard on behalf of the Arizona family. We are confident that we will find a new leader of our program who will take us to great heights with men and women of character and talent, on and off of the field.
Sincerely,
Robert C. Robbins
President
Dave Heeke
Director of Athletics
This article appears in Dec 28, 2017 – Jan 3, 2018.
“…..The investigation, which concluded on December 28, 2017, found that the original specific harassment allegations against Mr. Rodriguez could not be substantiated based on the evidence and witnesses available to it. However, Arizona Athletics did become aware of information, both before and during the investigation, which caused it to be concerned with the direction and climate of the football program…..”
Pure Bull Shit!!! Mr. Rodriquez should file a Slander Suit against the University, Robbins and Heeke!!
The workplace is not the best environment to get romantically involved with someone. You’re always going to put yourself at risk at ruining your career or reputation by doing that.
That people give a shit about the football program to the extent they do is baffling. More baffling is paying some schmuck millions of dollars to coach it when it ought to be what the phys-ed teacher does in his spare time. But so it goes. At least I won’t have to hear the celebabreve “RichRod” for much longer. I hope Mr. Rodriquez can move on and find something useful to do with his life.
Sounds like he was going to be let go anyway but using the woman who filed but couldn’t or wouldn’t support her claim made it easy. The crummy ending to the season even made me think it was time to move in another direction. Have to say that in today’s climate a woman bringing a harassment complaint can cause men to lose their jobs and she doesn’t even have to substantiate it. This may be another example of two wrongs not making it right!
Looks like he did what Bill Clinton did, but with a completely different outcome. The Democratic party still worships the Clintons. Rich Rod? Not so much.
Rodriguez didn’t finish his contract at West Virginia University but went to University of Michigan who paid off his contract to W.V.U. Michigan fired Rodriguez after 3 seasons with continued losses to arch rivals Michigan State and OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. They bought out his contract for several million. Rodriguez then came to University of Arizona where we all know what has happened there. With his severance pay from U of A you would think 8 MILLION would be enough money for a man and his family to live comfortably and allow some younger, more talented coaches to take over the reins at the college level. Rodriguez could always opt for a job as coach of the Cleveland Browns. His skills wouldn’t stink up the joint there because nobody would notice since the Browns have only won 4 of their last 48 games. Wonder where Rodriguez will go next because old coaches never die they just lose their balls.
Bull shit !! Francis, your language!!
Evil versus Good. It’s all going to eventually come out. It could not have happened to a more “self righteous” University. So corrupt it is that, there will be more exposed eventually. Hang onto your butts!
Many male UA sports/football fans (at least the ones that don’t already hate DickRod) are now reflexively disbelieving the accuser in this matter. This, of course, is a big part of the overall problem, and only helps to create a culture in which sexual assault and harassment are tolerated, or at the very least goes unpunished.
Let’s be clear: Cases of false accusation of sexual harassment and sexual assault are rare. This case shows why. This woman had everything to lose, including her own job, her daughter’s job, her daughter’s tuition break, her own reputation and career, etc. She had no faith in the institution to address the matter in any meaningful way, and for good reason. Most big universities are run like corporations now, and the bottom line is what matters most. Big-time university athletic programs are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and universities often do whatever it takes to protect their brand and that huge income stream, including hushing up or even covering up crimes and misbehavior by their athletes, coaches, etc. Internal investigations such as the one conducted by the UA into this matter are usually a joke, just exercises in damage control and coverup. No wonder the woman refused to cooperate.
So rather than pick an internal fight she had no hope of winning, this woman tried to extricate herself from the toxic situation while maintaining her employment at UA, and got nowhere and no support. So she eventually left the university. Apparently she then was emboldened by the dam breaking on sexual assault and harassment lately and filed suit.
There are a couple of key things that must change going forward in order to solve this problem.
1. Men gotta stop acting like assholes!
2. When men inevitably do act like assholes, other men in positions of power must hold them accountable. It is not up to women to solve this problem, especially when it tends to be most rampant in situations where men wield a preponderance of power and women’s recourse is quite limited (politics, big-time sports, corporations, Hollywood, etc.).
3. Re: this particular context, the culture of secrecy around big-time university athletics must end. It only serves to create an environment in which impunity is the order of the day, and it perpetuates all sorts of bad things, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. Alas, don’t count on the mainstream media to help destroy that culture of secrecy. They’re really just cheerleaders for the home team, and they long ago stopped doing anything that remotely resembles investigative journalism when it comes to UA sports coverage. They have no interest in breaking any story that would damage the university brand or the athletics gravy train, which pumps millions of dollars into their coffers as well.