Attorneys for former Wildcats football coach Rich Rodriguez have released a copy of the 鈥淗ideaway Book,鈥 which Rodriguez鈥檚 former assistant referenced in a December sexual harassment claim.
While Melissa Wilhelmsen鈥檚 claim described the book as a tool used to establish secrecy within Rodriguez鈥檚 circle and wield control over the group, the book produced by Rodriguez鈥檚 attorneys in their response to the claim paints a very different picture.
Copies of the 鈥淗ideaway Book鈥 from 2012 and 2015 obtained by the Star from attorneys detail the football program鈥檚 objectives, strategies for the season and job duties for every staff member and player.
The 鈥淥bjectives of Hideaway,鈥 listed in the 2015 book, are making sure every person in the program understands their responsibility and what they鈥檒l be accountable for, to ensure 鈥渆veryone is on the 鈥榮ame page鈥 on all aspects of the program鈥 and to discuss problems and solutions to better the program.
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There were four pages of expectations for staff, with 鈥渓oyalty鈥 at the top of the list.
The book specifies that employees are not to publicly criticize anyone in the program and will defend each other in public, saying, 鈥渕an on street knocks a coach, don鈥檛 just shrug it off.鈥
鈥淲e will succeed or fail with LOYALTY between men in here and their wives/families,鈥 the book says.
In her claims against Rodriguez and the UA, Wilhelmsen said that Rodriguez鈥檚 inner circle 鈥 consisting of her, former assistant coach Charlie Ragle and analyst Miguel Reveles 鈥 referred to themselves as the 鈥淭riangle of Secrecy.鈥
While the book doesn鈥檛 mention a 鈥淭riangle of Secrecy,鈥 it appears from the book that secrecy was still something of a priority.
In a section called 鈥淣o staff secrets out of the office,鈥 Rodriguez detailed what he considers private information: 鈥淒iscussions of personnel, problems and disagreements, be careful what you tell your wives, be careful what you say to the media (nothing is off the record) and tell your players to stay in-house as well.鈥
The book lists specific rules regarding dress code, saying that slacks, dress shoes and golf shirts are required when school is in session and that staff should wear as much 蜜柚直播 gear as possible.
One of the largest portions of the 鈥渟taff expectations鈥 section was employee conduct.
Directions to staff include 鈥渂e careful of profane language around office, secretaries and public鈥 and 鈥渄on鈥檛 curse at players 鈥 you can yell at what he does or doesn鈥檛 do but don鈥檛 make it personal.鈥
Employees are also directed to not embarrass the program or fellow coaches with drunkenness, DUI and embarrassing actions in public, and to 鈥渞emember, you are a leader of young men.鈥
In a section called 鈥渨ives,鈥 the book explains that staff members鈥 wives are 鈥渙ne of the most important assets to a coach鈥 and 鈥渙ften set your temperament and focus.鈥
鈥淓ducate her and control her talk. She must understand our program, jobs, town and state,鈥 the book says. 鈥淏e careful what you say to them. Make sure they are loyal to the staff and the program.鈥
The book also details off and on-field discipline, saying that the coaching staff will ensure that athletes not embarrass the school, themselves or their families with any 鈥渋mproper conduct.鈥
In the 2012 鈥淗ideaway Book,鈥 under a section about staff conduct, Rodriguez tells coaches it鈥檚 good to be involved in church, and although it鈥檚 voluntary, it sets a good example for the players.
Wilhelmsen鈥檚 claim says that the secretive environment created by the book led way to people saying things to the effect of 鈥淭itle IX doesn鈥檛 exist in our office,鈥 but a search of the 2012 and 2015 books showed that the words 鈥淭itle IX鈥 didn鈥檛 appear in either.
Wilhelmsen鈥檚 attorney, Augustine Jimenez, has not responded to the Star鈥檚 request for comment on the discrepancies presented by the different descriptions of the book鈥檚 purpose and contents.
