Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez named a semifinalist for MFC Coach of the Year

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

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