Twenty-four hours after the whirlwind firing of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football coach Rich Rodriguez, questions lingered about how it all went down and where the Wildcats go from here.
A UA official told the Star on Wednesday that first-year athletic director Dave Heeke had made the decision to fire Rodriguez regardless of the outcome of the university’s investigation into his workplace behavior.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ waited until after the investigation had been completed last Thursday to determine whether Rodriguez could be fired for cause — in which case the university wouldn’t have had to pay Rodriguez’s buyout of $6.28 million.
The investigation, conducted by the law firm of Cohen Dowd Quigley, could not substantiate the “original specific harassment allegations†brought by former UA employee Melissa Wilhelmsen against Rodriguez, according to a letter from Heeke and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ president Robert C. Robbins released Tuesday night. Therefore, Rodriguez couldn’t be fired for cause.
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However, as the letter notes, “ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 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.â€
Heeke’s decision was based on several factors, the UA official said, including on-field performance; poor attendance at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium; Rodriguez’s off-field behavior, including in postgame news conferences; and the necessity of the internal investigation. In short, Heeke and Rodriguez did not share the same vision for how a football program should be run and represented.
Rodriguez was fired Tuesday night after six seasons as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s coach. His dismissal came in the wake of a $7.5 million notice of claim filed with the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ attorney general’s office in which Wilhelmsen, who had been Rodriguez’s administrative assistant, accused him of creating a hostile work environment and sexual harassment.
Rodriguez denied those allegations late Tuesday night. Rodriguez did admit to having a “consensual extramarital affair with a woman who is not affiliated with the university.†A message left Wednesday afternoon with Bennett Speyer, an attorney who represented Rodriguez in a financial dispute with his former agent last year, was not returned.
Rodriguez noted that the complainant, Wilhelmsen, did not cooperate with the investigation. It is believed she declined to do so because she did not trust that the university would treat her allegations with the seriousness she felt they deserved.
At least one element in the notice of claim was in dispute Wednesday.
The document stated that Wilhelmsen’s husband was being considered for a job with the Diamondbacks and that if he got it, she would have to quit her job at the UA and move to Phoenix.
Rodriguez didn’t want her to leave, according to the document, saying, “No, I can’t lose you.†Rodriguez offered to have a friend set up an apartment for her so she could keep working for him, the document states, but she turned him down.
Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick, a longtime friend of Rodriguez’s, told The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Republic that Rodriguez tried to help Wilhelmsen’s husband get the job with the MLB club.
“Ken received a strong recommendation for her husband from Rich,†Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall told The Republic. “Rich had called Ken and said, ‘If you can help, we will vouch for him.’ â€
Wilhelmsen’s husband interviewed for the position but didn’t get the job.
Some have questioned the timing of Rodriguez’s dismissal, especially if Heeke already had made up his mind. Rodriguez hired Florida Atlantic’s Garin Justice as offensive line coach on Dec. 19. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ announced a signing class of 16 players the following day.
The NCAA introduced a new early signing period in 2017, and the first day to sign prospects was Dec. 20. The early period ended Dec. 22. Feb. 7 is the next date that high school recruits can sign national letters of intent. The future of the current class remains unclear.
Rodriguez’s firing blindsided members of the football program — including Rodriguez and his family, who were unaware of Heeke’s decision as late as 5 p.m. Tuesday. The news was announced at 8:25 p.m.
“I totally didn’t see this coming,†one member of the football staff said late Tuesday night. “I can’t believe this. I just talked to (Rodriguez) earlier today, and he mentioned some great positivity for the future.â€
In an even-keeled, reflective news conference after the Dec. 27 Foster Farms Bowl, Rodriguez expressed optimism for 2018 and beyond. The Wildcats finished 7-6 this past season after going 3-9 the year before. Sophomore quarterback Khalil Tate emerged as a potential star, and the defense started five freshmen.
After a Tate-led four-game winning streak lifted ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to 6-2, the Wildcats lost four of their final five games, including the Foster Farms Bowl. If the UA had defeated Purdue in lopsided fashion, it might have given Heeke pause.
Rodriguez’s last words to the media before he left the interview room at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, were as follows: “We’ll get better. We’ve gotta make that commitment in two weeks. Our guys will have two weeks off, and we’ll get back to work and get better this spring.â€
The UA’s spring semester begins next Wednesday. Heeke and interim coach Marcel Yates, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s defensive coordinator, are expected to address the team Tuesday or Wednesday.
The team and staff were informed of Rodriguez’s dismissal before it became public via a system the athletic department uses to send group messages. Heeke apologized twice in the brief note for being unable to deliver the news in person, but it was a matter of practicality: Players are on winter break and are scattered about the country.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ had not posted the head coaching opening on its careers website as of Wednesday. The university must post the job for 10 days before it can officially hire someone. So if the post goes up Thursday, the earliest a new coach could be announced would be Jan. 13. A job could be filled in fewer than 10 days in an emergency situation.
Heeke has not spoken publicly since Rodriguez was fired other than through university-issued statements and is not expected to comment during the search process.
Bill Ridenour, chair of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Board of Regents, on Wednesday expressed support for the decision by Heeke and Robbins to fire Rodriguez.
“The decision reinforces the board’s high expectations for leadership on and off the field and underscores the UA’s commitment to its core values and the UA family,†Ridenour, an ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ alum, wrote in a statement. “We must strive to create and maintain a culture in intercollegiate athletics that places a premium on leadership, integrity and support for students at all levels.â€
Heeke is consulting with highly respected former UA coach Dick Tomey about the opening.
A report Wednesday linked former LSU coach Les Miles to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, saying there was mutual interest between them.
Several UA players, including Tate, have thrown their support behind Yates, whom Rodriguez hired in January 2016.
