Report: Rich Rod to Arizona

Submitted by ChuckWood on

Rich Rod is the leading candidate for the University of Arizona job according to multiple twitter sources.  Nothing concrete but very interesting.  There was talk that ASU would consider him if Erikson left.

EDIT: confirmed by Bruce Feldmen.  Apparently they will be announcing within the next 48 hours.

EDIT: It's official.  The University of Arizona has hired Rich Rod as their next head coach.  Goodluck to him.

snowcrash

November 21st, 2011 at 6:26 PM ^

Most people in Arizona are originally from somewhere else, and even the ones who were born there don't give a rip about "outsiders". The most popular U of A coach of all time was Lute Olson, who came from Iowa. I think RR would be a good fit there, and transition issues should be minimal as QB Nick Foles (a west coast type who would not fit in a spread and shred) is a senior.

Tater

November 21st, 2011 at 6:24 PM ^

RR could succeed in AZ.  He should get full cooperation, and I would imagine he has figured out that he should delegate his defense to someone who can do the job.  There is plenty of talent out there, and Oregon proved that a school can build a decent program in a short amount of time if enough resources are spend toward that end.  

There are some nice Juco programs on the west coast, and AZ will probably let him recruit a few Juco transfers to get started.  

LSAClassOf2000

November 21st, 2011 at 5:39 PM ^

If Meyer went to OSU, it suddenly becomes an in-demand gig again since I presume that would happen only in a scenario where NCAA sanctions were deemed workable by Meyer, and of course, if he actually wanted the job. I would imagine that he could put together a staff that would quickly eliminate Walrusball anyway....

If RR goes to Arizona, my guess is that he would probably informally try to assemble a staff fairlyquickly,  but perhaps we wouldn't hear much until early next year. 

justingoblue

November 21st, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^

It gets even more interesting when you think they have similar desires from an x's and o's standpoint, even if their actual play on the field looks pretty different. With Magee and Co. settled at Pitt, and Meyer's old guys...wherever they went to, they might both be interviewing a fair amount of people without much (or any) prior connection.

jmblue

November 21st, 2011 at 5:43 PM ^

He needs a good DC and the willingness to let that DC run his own defense.  In 2008 he had the first (Shafer), but not the second. 

I'm curious to see where he'll go from here.  Will he try to reunite his old WVU staff?  He seems very loyal to them, but it might be better for him to go in a new direction (especially regarding the secondary).

Needs

November 21st, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^

What he really needs are better defensive position coaches. for all the grief VERY rightly takes, the positional fundamentals and understanding were as much of a problem as the overall scheme.

UMLaw73

November 21st, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^

I'm sure he and his non-traditional brand of football will work well out there with all those alternative styles.  Recruiting academics shouldn't be an issue now as well.  Also, low expectations from a primarily.... (basketball I guess) school, where football is probably less important than the pre- and post- games for most students.

Butterfield

November 21st, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^

Low expectations is dead-on.  Football in all of Arizona is dead and fans are apathetic about U of A and ASU outside of the Territorial Cup game.  The ASU gig will open up also by the end of the year if not sooner, Dennis Erickson is toast.  He'll have time to get his stuff together, although I recommend he beat ASU fairly regularly - which U of A has managed to do the last two years even with awful teams. 

Butterfield

November 21st, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^

There is no defense that can block a proper extra point attempt.  It takes a low kick, bad snap, or combination of factors that the offense has complete control of.  The Devils were extremely lucky to win that game last year and in hindsight, maybe they wish they hadn't - Erickson may be gone and the program would be further along in its recovery.   

This from an entirely neutral observer, M grad with no affiliation to either UofA or ASU, who lives in the valley. 

jmblue

November 21st, 2011 at 6:44 PM ^

I'm not sure if low expectations would be a good thing.  It's clear that RR needs a strong DC to succeed, but if UA doesn't expect much from its football program, will it be willing to pay market value for a good DC?