— Rich Rodriguez (@CoachRodAZ) January 3, 2018
University of Arizona Football coach Rich Rodriguez learned in an email that he was fired as a result of a sexual harassment allegation by his former administrative assistant. The university began investigating the allegation in October.
“After conducting a thorough evaluation of our football program and its leadership, both on and off the field, President [Robert] Robbins and I feel it is in the best interest of the University of Arizona and our athletics department to go in a new direction,” said athletic director Dave Heeke in a statement.
University of Arizona’s Office of Institutional Equity retained the law firm of Cohen Dowd Quigley to investigate the matter. The investigation did not find grounds to fire Rodriguez, but, according to Heeke and Robbins, “Arizona 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.”