Mary Sue Coleman: Rich Rodriguez hire was the wrong call

**mtdman** · 05-12-2012, 07:03 AM

Mary Sue Coleman: Rich Rodriguez hire was the wrong call

In retrospect, the answer is obvious.

Considering Rich Rodriguez lasted just three seasons as head coach of the Michigan football team, it's easy to say he was the wrong man to replace Lloyd Carr in December 2007.

For the first time, University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman said exactly that Friday in Flint.

According to MLive.com, Coleman told members of the Rotary Club of Flint that hiring Rodriguez was the wrong call.

While answering a question from the crowd, Coleman indicated that she and then-athletic director Bill Martin were intrigued by Rodriguez's expertise in the spread offense at a time when Carr was criticized for a conservative style of play.

From the MLive.com story:

"He was a hot, young coach with a different approach," Coleman said of the decision to hire Rodriguez.

Rodriguez's was fired last year after a three-year tenure that included NCAA violations, embarrassing losses and a 15-22 record.

Coleman said she is "very happy" Rodriguez has a new job as head coach at the University of Arizona and she wishes him luck.

She also said she is very pleased with new coach Brady Hoke and that he is a better fit for the school.

"(Hoke) has more of the kind of Midwestern ethos," Coleman said.