Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez named a semifinalist for MFC Coach of the Year
Nov 20, 2014, 1:01 AM | Updated: 1:01 am
The Arizona Wildcats thought they were getting a top-notch coach when they hired Rich Rodriguez in November 2011.
But even they might be a little surprised at what he has done.
Rodriguez guided the Wildcats to a pair of eight-win seasons in his first two years on the job, coming up with bowl victories in each.
But in this, his third season with the team, the Wildcats have reached new heights.
Rodriguez has coached the team to an 8-2 record with a 5-2 mark in the Pac-12. It is the Wildcats’ best start since 1998 when they finished with a 12-1 record, and they’ve won eight games in three straight seasons for the first time since 1973-75.
With two games to play the Wildcats are also still in contention for the Pac-12 South title, which would be the first in the school’s history.
Rodriguez has done this without All-American Ka’Deem Carey, who departed for the NFL, and with a redshirt freshman, Anu Solomon, at quarterback.
The Wildcats are currently 15th in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Because of that — and other reasons — Rodriguez has been recognized by the Maxwell Football Club as one of 20 semifinalists for the Coach of the Year Award.
MFC Coach of the Year Semifinalists
Troy Calhoun, Air Force
Nick Saban, Alabama
Rich Rodriguez, Arizona
Todd Graham, Arizona State
Art Briles, Baylor
Jim McElwain, Colorado State
David Cutcliffe, Duke
Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
Mark Richt, Georgia
Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
Bill Snyder, Kansas State
Doc Holliday, Marshall
Hugh Freeze, Mississippi
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Mark Helfrich, Oregon
Gary Patterson, TCU
Kyle Whittingham, Utah
P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan
Gary Andersen, Wisconsin
