The week after New Year’s is always one that less successful football coaches fear, and Rich Rodriguez may be the worst one off yet.
The University Of Arizona announced on Tuesday night that they were parting ways with the head coach due to a sexual harassment claim made by a former employee:
Have heard there are two college programs dealing with MeToo allegations involving coaches. Arizona is apparently one of them. https://t.co/MtKPE0uznq
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2018
Two people familiar with the matter revealed to USA Today that the University had hired a law firm to investigate the workplace misconduct claims and were preparing to buy Rodriguez out of his $6.3 million contract.
University Of Arizona Athletic Director David Heeke sent a letter regarding Rodriguez’ status to the student body last night.
In part, he says the university had to “conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations” Rodriguez’ former coworker made. But after she filed her first complaint “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 financial claim against Mr. Rodriguez.”
Here’s the letter Wildcat AD Dave Heeke sent to students, faculty, and staff tonight. pic.twitter.com/xliNwkeVM9
— Damien Alameda (@DAlamedaKOLD) January 3, 2018
Rich Rodriguez quickly responded to the AD’s letter with a statement of his own on Twitter, saying in part that did have a “consensual extramarital affair” but did not harass anybody. He also revealed that he voluntarily took and passed a polygraph test.
— Rich Rodriguez (@CoachRodAZ) January 3, 2018