D
Rich Rodriguez
CLOSE Head football coach Rich Rodriguez  has been fired from the University of Arizona. Wochit
 Rich Rodriguez  was fired as the University of Arizona's head football coach after a notice of claim alleging a hostile workplace was filed. (Photo: Casey Sapio/USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday came to the defense of  fired University of Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez   questioning part of the account of  his  former assistant who has accused  him  of sexually harassing her and creating a hostile work environment.
The university fired  Rodriguez  late Tuesday  following bombshell allegations in a nine-page legal claim from  his  former administrative assistant  Melissa Wilhelmsen. University of Arizona officials said the school had grown uncomfortable with the direction of the program on the field and fired  him  without cause.
 Rodriguez  has denied the allegations  except that  he  had an extramarital affair that Wilhelmsen said she was forced to help cover up.  Rodriguez  is likely to receive a $6.3 million buyout of the remainder of  his  contract.
Full details of  Rich Rodriguez  harassment claim
UA official: AD made call to fire  Rodriguez  before investigation was done
Wilhelmsen claimed  among other things  that  Rodriguez  fondled her  tried to kiss her  said he was in love with her and wouldn't let Wilhelmsen leave her job in February 2016  when her husband was being considered as head security officer for the Diamondbacks.
Wilhelmsen's claim alleges  Rodriguez  protested  saying: "No  I can't lose you " and offered to set up an apartment for her to continue working for  him . "Melissa told  him  she was unwilling to do that " the claim states.
Ken Kendrick  owner of the Diamondbacks  has been a close friend of  Rodriguez 's for at least 15 years. Both have ties to West Virginia University  where  Rodriguez  once coached.
Kendrick on Wednesday told The Arizona Republic he is a longtime supporter of  Rodriguez  and acknowledged that he is biased to defend his friend  though he did not condone the affair.
Still  Kendrick said  Rodriguez  clearly was looking out for the best interest of  his  assistant when  he  tried to help her husband get a job with the Diamondbacks.
Kendrick said  Rodriguez  strongly recommended Jason Wilhelmsen  Melissa's husband  for the team's security job.
CLOSE Shot Clock video: Mark Faller and Greg Moore discuss Arizona's decision to fire football coach Rich Rodriguez.
Diamondbacks team President Derrick Hall said Melissa Wilhelmsen personally emailed her husband's resume to Kendrick's assistant on Jan. 27  2016  because she knew  Rodriguez  and Kendrick were close friends. Hall said the resume arrived just as the team was closing its search for candidates.
Hall said  Rodriguez  called Kendrick the next day and Jason Wilhelmsen was interviewed the following month.
[TGT] has been fired from the University of Arizona.  [TGT] 
was fired as the University of Arizona's head football coach after a notice of claim alleging a hostile workplace was filed. (Photo: Casey Sapio/USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday came to the defense of  fired  [TGT] questioning part of the account of  [TGT]  [TGT]   former assistant who has accused   [TGT]   of sexually harassing  [TGT]  and creating a hostile work environment.
The university fired   [TGT] late Tuesday  following bombshell allegations in a nine-page legal claim from   [TGT]   former administrative assistant  Melissa Wilhelmsen. University of Arizona officials said the school had grown uncomfortable with the direction of the program on the field and fired   [TGT]   without cause.
  [TGT] has denied the allegations  except that   [TGT]   had an extramarital affair that Wilhelmsen said she was forced to help cover up.   [TGT] is likely to receive a $6.3 million buyout of the remainder of   [TGT]   contract.
Full details of   [TGT] harassment claim
UA official: AD made call to fire   [TGT] before investigation was done
Wilhelmsen claimed  among other things  that   [TGT] fondled her  tried to kiss her  said  [TGT]  was in love with her and wouldn't let Wilhelmsen leave her job in February 2016  when her husband was being considered as head security officer for the Diamondbacks.
Wilhelmsen's claim alleges   [TGT] protested  saying: "No  I can't lose you " and offered to set up an apartment for her to continue working for  him . "Melissa told  him  she was unwilling to do that " the claim states.
Ken Kendrick  owner of the Diamondbacks  has been a close friend of  Rodriguez 's for at least 15 years. Both have ties to West Virginia University  where  Rodriguez  once coached.
Kendrick on Wednesday told The Arizona Republic he is a longtime supporter of  Rodriguez  and acknowledged that he is biased to defend his friend  though he did not condone the affair.
Still  Kendrick said   [TGT] clearly was looking out for the best interest of   [TGT]   assistant when   [TGT]   tried to help her husband get a job with the Diamondbacks.
Kendrick said   [TGT] strongly recommended Jason Wilhelmsen  Melissa's husband  for the team's security job.
CLOSE Shot Clock video: Mark Faller and Greg Moore discuss Arizona's decision to fire football coach Rich Rodriguez.
Diamondbacks team President Derrick Hall said Melissa Wilhelmsen personally emailed her husband's resume to Kendrick's assistant on Jan. 27  2016  because she knew   [TGT] and Kendrick were close friends. Hall said the resume arrived just as the team was closing its search for candidates.
Hall said   [TGT] called Kendrick the next day and Jason Wilhelmsen was interviewed the following month.