Topic: Rich Rodriguez

Richard A. Rodriguez (born May 24, 1963) is an American football coach and former player. Most recently, he was the head football coach at the University of Michigan from 2008 to 2010, a position from which he was dismissed on January 5, 2011. Rodriguez has also served as the head coach at Salem University (1988), Glenville State College (1990–1996), and West Virginia University (2001–2007). His career college football coaching record stands at 120–84–2.

A native of Grant Town, West Virginia, Rodriguez graduated from North Marion High School in 1981 where he played four sports and was an all-state football and basketball player. After high school, Rodriguez attended West Virginia University. Playing as a defensive back, Rodriguez recorded 54 career tackles over three seasons.

During the 1985–1986 season, Rodriguez served as a student assistant under head coach Don Nehlen and graduated with a Physical Education degree. In 1986, he moved to what was then Salem College (now Salem International University) where he served as special teams coordinator and secondary coach. In 1987, he became Salem’s defensive coordinator and in 1988 took over as head coach. At 25 years old, he was the youngest college head coach in the country. He was 2–8 in his first season as head coach, after which the college announced it was dropping its football program.