The daughter of former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez has issued a statement defending her dad and attacking the credibility of the woman who accused him of sexual harassment.
Rodriguez was fired Tuesday night after his former administrative assistant, Melissa Wilhelmsen, filed a $7.5 million notice of claim with the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ attorney general’s office alleging that Rodriguez “created and fostered†a hostile work environment and sexually harassed her.
Raquel Rodriguez, a senior cheerleader at the UA, disputed those claims in a tweet Thursday afternoon.
“I want to address the false and ridiculous claims of sexual harassment made by Melissa Wilhelmsen about my family and other people involved in the program,†Raquel Rodriguez wrote. “It specifically breaks my heart that my mother and I were extremely nice and supportive to her at all times and did nothing but treat her with respect, yet it seems to have meant nothing to her.
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“I will never understand her actions. She is hurting my entire family, the other staff members and their families, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football team, the entire university and, sadly, all the true victims of sexual harassment.â€
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.â€
— Raquel Rodriguez (@raquelrod_23)
Raquel Rodriguez also posted a text-message exchange from July 28. That’s the day, per the notice of claim, when Wilhelmsen gave her two-week notice. Raquel Rodriguez prefaced the screenshot with this sentence: “You be the judge whether or not this was a woman that hated going to work every day in such a ‘hostile environment.’ â€
In the text exchange, Raquel congratulates Melissa and thanks her. This was Melissa’s response:
“Awww, thank you so much! You are making me cry! I love you guys so much and am so grateful for all that you guys have done for me as well! I will always be here for you guys no matter what, I’m only a phone call away. It’s a hard decision, but it’s time. … Thank you for everything!!â€
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ hired an outside firm to investigate Wilhelmsen’s allegations. The firm could not corroborate them, in part because Wilhelmsen would not cooperate. UA athletic director Dave Heeke decided to fire Rodriguez anyway. The Star later learned that Heeke, citing additional factors, had made up his mind to dismiss Rodriguez regardless of the outcome of the investigation.
Raquel Rodriguez was a regular presence beside her father in San Francisco in the days preceding the Dec. 27 Foster Farms Bowl in nearby Santa Clara. Her mother, Rita Rodriguez, was not seen at events open to the media until the day of the game.