Rich Rodriguez Position: Assistant Head Coach/Off. Coordinator

After a season in which Clemson's offense established a record for setting offensive records, Rich Rodriguez has assumed the title of associate head coach of the Tiger program. Clemson's offenisve coordinator guided a Tiger attack that set 26 school records in 1999, more new standards than any Clemson team since the NCAA modern era of record keeping began in 1936.

Rodriguez has truly brought Clemson's offense to the 21st century. The attack that features multiple wide receivers, yet yields a productive rushing game, averaged 404 yards a game last year, nearly a 100-yard per game improvement over the previous season. The 1999 offense was just the third in Clemson history to average at least 400 yards per game.

More than just yardage standards were established. Clemson scored 42 touchdowns in 1999, fifth highest total in school history and most in over a decade. Clemson also set marks on a season basis for passing yardage, completions and completion percentage.

What was most impressive and telling about the system is demonstrated in a review of the individual records. Two different quarterbacks with totally different styles of play, Brandon Streeter and Woodrow Dantzler, had performances of at least 350 yards of total offense. Dantzler's 435-yard game at Maryland broke a 52-year-old record, while Streeter's 366 yards of total offense against Virginia ranks third best in school history.

Rodriguez came to Clemson after serving as Tulane's offensive coordinator in 1997 and 1998. During those two years, the Green Wave offense rewrote the Tulane record books. In 1997, the team set 26 school records, the same number Clemson set in his first year with the Tiger program.

In 1998, the proficiency of the offense continued under Rodriguez as the Green Wave rolled to a 12-0 record and a Liberty Bowl win over Brigham Young. Tulane was the only team in the nation to average over 300 yards passing per game and 200 yards rushing per game.

Tulane scored 40 or more points in seven contests in '98, including each of the last five regular season games. The team was second nationally with an average of 45.4 points per game and had a top 10 national ranking in the final AP and Coach's polls.

At Tulane, Rodriguez helped mold Shaun King, now of the Tampa Bay Bucs, into one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. King, set the NCAA single-season pass efficiency record with a 183.3 mark in 1998 and threw 36 touchdown passes with just six interceptions.

Before joining the Tulane staff in 1997, Rodriguez spent seven years as head coach at Glenville State College in Glenville, WV.

Rodriguez's teams won four consecutive West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, the school's first league titles since 1959. In 1993, he led Glenville to the NAIA Division I championship game.

The Glenville offense led the WVIAC in total offense and scoring offense in six of Rodriguez's seven years. His team led the nation in both categories in 1993 and 1994.

In 1993 and 1994, Rodriguez had dual roles as Glenville's head coach and athletic director. He was the conference coach of the year in 1993 and 1994 and NAIA national coach of the year in 1993. His career record at the school in seven seasons was 45-36-2.

Before working at Glenville, Rodriguez served as outside linebackers coach at his alma mater, West Virginia. He was a part of the 1989 Mountaineer coaching staff that reached the Gator Bowl and lost to Clemson, 27-7.

At age 24, Rodriguez became the nation's youngest head football coach when he was named coach at Salem (WV) College. He was promoted to the position after serving as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at the school in 1987. In 1986, he was Salem's secondary coach and special teams coordinator.

As a player at West Virginia, Rodriguez earned three letters and played on four Mountaineer bowl teams as a defensive back. He graduated from WVU in 1986 and later went on to earn a master's degree in physical education from Salem (now known as Salem-Teikyo University).

Rodriguez, 37, is married to the former Rita Setliff, and the couple has two children: Raquel (4) and Rhett (2).

COACHING EXPERIENCE
Secondary coach and special teams coordinator at Salem (1986)
Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Salem (1987)
Head coach at Salem (1988)
Volunteer coach at West Virginia (1989)
Head coach at Glenville State College (1990-96)
Offensive coordinator at Tulane (1997-98)
Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at Clemson (1999)
Associate head coach/offensive coordinator at Clemson (2000)

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College - Lettered three years as a defensive back at West Virginia (1982-84)

EDUCATION
Earned a BS degree in 1986 from West Virginia.
Earned a master's degree in physical education in 1989 from Salem (now known as Salem-Teikyo University).

PERSONAL DATA
Born on May 24, 1963 Married to the former Rita Setliff...the couple has two children - Raquel (4) and Rhett (2)

BOWL PARTICIPATION
As a player
1981 Peach Bowl
1982 Gator Bowl
1983 Hall of Fame
1984 Bluebonnet
As a coach
1989 Gator Bowl
1998 Liberty Bowl
1999 Peach Bowl