OK. After reading most of the stories out there this is my understanding of what led to Rodriguez being let go.
This next statement is my opinion and I don't have any facts to back this opinion up, just experience and educated guessing. Given the very nature of the possible pending lawsuit I can almost guarantee the University's lawyers insisted it be done via letter (or email) so that there wasn't any counter claim that the former Admin Assistant could file against the University. The message would have to have been clear that the possible pending lawsuit had nothing to do with his dismissal and that it was football related.
In summary, Rodriguez had an affair and involved his staff to help him keep it away from his wife. This lead to some very uncomfortable work situations and one assistant left because of it. The pending cover up of the affair and the extent of how it affected the football operations along with the performance of the team led to his firing.
I haven't talked to anyone and am making my opinions based on what I have read. Just my take on it. Interested what others have found and your opinions.
- Had an affair while the Arizona Head Coach.
- Asked (or made) his assistant to cover for him
- Went to extravagant effort to keep his reputation intact resulting in a "hostile work environment claim".
- Assistant quit and notified University of hostile work environment.
- University hired 3rd party to investigate but former assistant, now with an attorney, refused to cooperate.
- During that investigation which included a polygraph test by Rodriguez, no specific hostile work environment claims could be justified. However the investigation did bring to light other issues within the football program that the AD and President were concerned about.
- The team, after starting 6-2, finished 1-4 in it's last 5 games. As an interesting aside the accusations and 3rd party investigation started sometime in October when Arizona was winning. I don't know the date but I am assuming that the entire staff and Rodriguez himself were somewhat distracted by the whole thing.
- Decision was made given the way the football team finished the season and the information discovered during the investigation to part ways with Rodriguez.
This next statement is my opinion and I don't have any facts to back this opinion up, just experience and educated guessing. Given the very nature of the possible pending lawsuit I can almost guarantee the University's lawyers insisted it be done via letter (or email) so that there wasn't any counter claim that the former Admin Assistant could file against the University. The message would have to have been clear that the possible pending lawsuit had nothing to do with his dismissal and that it was football related.
In summary, Rodriguez had an affair and involved his staff to help him keep it away from his wife. This lead to some very uncomfortable work situations and one assistant left because of it. The pending cover up of the affair and the extent of how it affected the football operations along with the performance of the team led to his firing.
I haven't talked to anyone and am making my opinions based on what I have read. Just my take on it. Interested what others have found and your opinions.
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