When Tony Dews told his four daughters they were moving to Tucson, they had two requests - and one big question.
Yes, Dews said, they could move to a house with a swimming pool. And sure, the girls could each have an iPod Touch for Christmas.
But those things were secondary, the Arizona Wildcats' new wide receivers coach said.
"The first thing they asked me was, 'Do we get to run around in the stadium again?'" Dews said.
The answer, of course, was yes.
While just about every head coach in America preaches family, UA coach Rich Rodriguez has an open-door policy.
The Wildcats' new coach will open up Arizona Stadium, the Jimenez Practice Facility and the football offices to his new assistants' families, just as he did in previous stops at West Virginia and Michigan. The practice was a big hit with the assistants and their wives, and a main reason why many of Rodriguez's loyal aides followed him to Tucson.
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Dews, co-offensive coordinator Calvin Magee and secondary coach Tony Gibson all left jobs at Pittsburgh within a week of Rodriguez's hiring. Co-offensive coordinator Rod Smith joined the group a few days later, leaving a post at Indiana.
"When it comes to loyalty," Smith said, "that pretty much tells you all you need to know."
Former UA coach Mike Stoops was similarly a soft touch when it came to family time. The coaches' wives held weekly "cookie nights" following practices; afterward, Stoops and his two children would often play catch and eat dinner together. The coach and his daughter, Payton, were regulars at UA basketball games.
Rodriguez takes it even further. Though he was criticized for lacking family values while at Michigan, those closest to Arizona's new coach say he's both loyal and loving. Rodriguez and his wife, Rita, met Dews, Magee and Gibson at Tucson International Airport the day they arrived in town. Rita brought jeweled pins for the coaches' wives, and Rich brought caps and jackets for the guys.
The Rodriguezes are natural-hosts, whether it's at home or on campus.
"You go to practice, and there will be 10 little kids on the other end, jumping all over the (tackling) dummies and just running around and having a great time," Dews said. "Rich opens it up so they can come eat dinner with us every day, or any day they want. … It's really been a family."
Gibson, who has known Rodriguez since 1991, called the coaching staff "my second family." He played for Rodriguez at tiny Glenville (W.Va.) State, graduating in 1994. Gibson joined Rodriguez's coaching staff in 1996, and - following stints at a few small colleges - hooked up with him for good in 2001. With the exception of this season's stint at Pittsburgh, Gibson has been with him ever since.
Rodriguez, Rita and their children Rhett and Raquel are default aunts, uncles and cousins to the assistants' army of kids. The Wildcats' five new on-field assistants - Rodriguez is expected to hire three more in the coming two weeks - are all married and fathers to a combined 13 children. Magee, Smith, Gibson and Dews have seven girls and three boys, all of whom have known each other practically since birth. Offensive line coach Robert Anae's three children - Famika Jr., Max and Penny - should fit right in.
After all, Arizona Stadium awaits.
"I love," Dews said, "that he's a family-oriented guy."
Casteel staying mum on UA subject
The Arizona Wildcats' top defensive coordinator target has talked to coach Rich Rodriguez "a lot of times," but will not say whether he plans to join his staff.
West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel told The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette that he won't comment on rumors that he will join the UA's staff following the Mountaineers' Jan. 4 Orange Bowl game against Clemson.
Rodriguez, who was hired Nov. 21, must still hire a defensive coordinator and two position coaches. Casteel has been widely considered the favorite for the job.
"What does it matter?" Casteel said to The Gazette about the rumors. "This time of year there's speculation everywhere. It's always been like that. It was like that last year. It was like that the year before. And sometimes it's out in the forefront, and sometimes it isn't."
Casteel worked under Rodriguez at WVU from 2001 to 2007, serving as defensive coordinator the final four seasons. He stayed in Morgantown, W.Va., when Rodriguez - and most of his staff - left for Michigan. Casteel has since served as WVU's defensive coordinator under Bill Stewart (2008-10) and Dana Holgorsen (2011).
Casteel is one of the most respected - and highest-paid - defensive coordinators in the country. He is making $400,000 this season, the first year of a three-year deal. Scheduled raises will boost his pay to $500,000 in 2013.
Rodriguez said the defensive coordinator is "a big hire for me, obviously" and plans on making him the highest-paid assistant on staff.
Ryan Finley
