On Tuesday night, the University of Arizona fired head football coach Rich Rodriguez, effective immediately, saying an investigation launched in October into sexual harassment claims by a former athletic department employee had turned up other information that caused the university "to be concerned with the direction and climate of the football program." Rodriguez, 54, was in the sixth year of a contract scheduled to last until May 2020, and the university said it will "honor the separation terms of his contract," which include a $6.3 million buyout, USA Today reports.
The outside investigation, conducted by a law firm, had been unable to substantiate the harassment claims, in part because the accuser had declined to cooperate or "turn over communications that she alleged provided support for her allegations," the university said in a letter. Instead, she had threatened a potentially embarrassing lawsuit and filed a notice of financial claim with the state attorney general. In a separate statement, Rodriguez denied the harassment claims from the woman, whom he identified as his former administrative assistant, but said the investigation had uncovered "a consensual extramarital affair with a woman who is not affiliated with the university."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 weather-beaten cartoons about the Texas floodsCartoons Artists take on funding cuts, politicizing tragedy, and more
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Europe's heatwave: the new front line of climate changeIn the Spotlight How will the continent adapt to 'bearing the brunt of climate change'?
-
Search for survivors continues after Texas floodsSpeed Read A total of 82 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star programspeed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
-
US proposes eroding species protectionsSpeed Read The Trump administration wants to change the definition of 'harm' in the Environmental Protection Act to allow habitat damage
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central USSpeed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslidesSpeed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides
-
Death toll rises in LA fires as wind lull allows progressSpeed Read At least 24 people have died and 100,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders
-
Biden cancels Italy trip as raging LA fires spreadSpeed Read The majority of the fires remain 0% contained
-
Fast-spreading Los Angeles wildfires spark panicSpeed Read About 30,000 people were under an evacuation order as the inferno spread
