Rich Rodriguez regrets not taking Alabama job in 2006

It’s a long time ago now, but Rich Rodriguez was once one of the hottest coaching properties in college football. He was so sought after, in fact, that he was the preferred choice of the Alabama Crimson Tide back in 2006.

Rodriguez turned down that opportunity, remained at West Virginia for one more year, and then opted to leave for Michigan. He went 15-22 with the Wolverines, and his career hasn’t been the same since.

Rodriguez, currently unemployed after a one year stint as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, now wishes he’d done things differently.

“We all have things in our lives that we would do differently if we had that opportunity,” Rodriguez said, via Chris Low of ESPN. “And, sure, hindsight is always 20-20, but Alabama would have been a better fit for me than Michigan.”

The story had a happy ending for Alabama, as the school turned around and landed Nick Saban after Rodriguez turned them down. It’s safe to say Rodriguez would not have brought that level of success to the Crimson Tide.

In terms of Rodriguez regretting his Michigan experience, the feeling is mutual, though that likely doesn’t make anyone feel better about it.