Skip to main content

Arizona parts ways with head football coach Rich Rodriguez

Jan 2, 2018
Casey Sapio/USA Today Sports

Arizona Athletics annouced on Tuesday night that it had parted ways with head football coach Rich Rodriguez. The athletic department released the following statement: 

The University of Arizona has parted ways with head football coach Rich Rodriguez, Athletics Director Dave Heeke announced on Tuesday. The athletics department is initiating a national search for its next head football coach and will utilize a search firm to assist with the process. The University will honor the separation terms of his contract.

“After conducting a thorough evaluation of our football program and its leadership, both on and off the field, President Robbins and I feel it is in the best interest of the University of Arizona and our athletics department to go in a new direction,” Heeke said. “We’ll move through the coaching search in an effort to identify a head coach that will build a solid foundation for our program and create an identity of Arizona football that the University, Tucson and Southern Arizona communities can be proud of. We’re excited about the future of our football program and we look forward to introducing our new head coach at the completion of the search process.”

Rodriguez responded on Twitter, describing claims of harassment by an administrative assistant as "baseless and false."