The Arizona Wildcats’ 41-day search for a head football coachended Monday with a Tweet and a tease: “And the new Arizona football coach and his family is… ” Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez, a CBS Sports analyst and the former coach at WestVirginia University and University of Michigan, was named Arizona’s30th football coach with a Tweet from Athletic Director Greg ByrneMonday evening. Rodriguez, 48, will be introduced at a McKaleCenter news conference today at noon. He replaces Mike Stoops, whowas fired Oct. 10 with his team mired in a 1-5 start. Byrne confirmed Rodriguez’s hiring to the Star at 5:30 p.m.Monday; minutes later, he posted a picture of himself withRodriguez, his wife, Rita, and their two children, Raquel andRhett, on Twitter. Rodriguez and his kids were sporting whiteArizona hats. The photo was taken in Michigan, where the Rodriguezes still owna home. Byrne and Rodriguez flew from the Midwest to Tucson lateMonday, and arrived at the athletic director’s Foothills-area homenear midnight. Details of Rodriguez’s multi-year contract won’t be announceduntil today, but the UA has budgeted $1.5 million to $2 millionannually to pay its new head coach. Stoops made about $1.4 millionthis season. Rodriguez went 120-84-2 in head coaching stops at Salem College(North Carolina), Glenville State (West Virginia), West Virginiaand Michigan, but has no experience recruiting or coaching in theWest. His three-year stint at Michigan, which fired him followingthe 2010 season, was marked by recruiting successes, cultureclashes and sanctions. The NCAA put the Wolverines on three years’ probation for aseries of minor violations, including a failure to monitorassistant coaches when the team exceeded practice time limits. Critics called Rodriguez’s spread-rushing attack a tough sell inBig Ten country, and balked at someone who wasn’t a “Michigan man”running one of the nation’s most prestigious programs. That theWolverines went 15-22 overall and 6-18 in conference play under”Rich Rod” only made things worse. He was fired in January after aGator Bowl loss to Mississippi State. At Arizona, Rodriguez will have to develop West Coast recruitingties – and fast. The grandson of a Spanish immigrant, Rodriguez spent most of hischildhood in West Virginia. He played defensive back at WestVirginia, rising from a walk-on to scholarship player, and servedas a student assistant after graduation. Rodriguez returned to WVU when Salem College dropped footballand spent the 1989 season coaching outside linebackers. From there,he served as head coach at Glenville State (1990-96) and offensivecoordinator at Tulane (1997-98) and Clemson (1999-2000). While at Tulane, he worked with current UA quarterbacks coachFrank Scelfo. Scelfo, speaking Monday before Rodriguez was hired, describedhis colleague as a “good guy” who would be a natural fit both atthe UA and in the offensive-minded Pac-12 Conference. Rodriguez isexpected to retain at least one member of Stoops’ staff – Scelfo isa strong possibility – to help with recruiting and the transitionfrom a pass-based spread offense to one that focuses more on therun. Rodriguez’s former assistants have scattered to staffsthroughout the country, including Pitt and Indiana. He’s expectedto bring at least a few former staffers to Tucson. Arizona’s players were put off-limits to the media Monday onceit became clear that a hire was imminent, and interim coach TimKish called a team meeting to remind them, per Byrne’s request, tostay quiet until after the new coach was introduced. Some Wildcats will be happier with the hire than others.Quarterback Matt Scott seems to be a good fit for Rodriguez’ssystem; a redshirt this season, he’ll have one more year ofeligibility left in 2012. He’ll likely pair with Ka’Deem Carey,Arizona’s freshman standout, to form a dynamic backfield nextfall. The move could spell bad news for Rutgers transfer Tom Savage, apro-style quarterback who hoped to challenge Scott for the startingjob. Arizona’s players will be somewhat familiar with his defensivescheme; they ran elements of it in Saturday’s 31-27 win over rivalArizona State. Monday’s hiring ended five-plus weeks of silence from Byrne, whovowed complete secrecy as he pursued a new coach. Even the candidates remained mostly a mystery. Former Texas Techcoach Mike Leach expressed interest in the job but was rebuffed.It’s unclear if Byrne talked to Boise State head coach ChrisPetersen, a longtime friend, or Louisiana Tech coach and former UAaide Sonny Dykes. Both were linked to Arizona’s opening in themedia. While Byrne continued to attend games – he was in the press boxfor Saturday’s victory – he stayed mum about any possiblecandidates, with a few exceptions. Byrne joked Saturday that he was”going to go pick Mike Bellotti up at the airport” amid erroneousrumors that the former Oregon coach was headed to Tucson. Byrne was in a good mood, and for good reason. Earlier Saturday,he had paid a visit to one of his coaching candidates. While Byrnewouldn’t say who, Rodriguez – who called UTEP’s game against Tulsain nearby El Paso – seems the logical choice. Arizona’s players didn’t know it at the time, but their nexthead coach was a short flight away – and paying attention. Nickel back Jourdon Grandon said Saturday that he knew “whoeverthe next coach is was watching us.” And he was probably happy. “He saw a lot of kids with heart, a lot of underclassmen thatwill be willing to play hard for him,” Grandon said. BIO BOX • Full name: Richard A. Rodriguez • Age: 48 • Hometown: Grant Town, W. Va. • High school: North Marion High School, Grant Town, W. Va. • College (degree): West Virginia (B.A. in physical education,1986) • Playing experience: Played defensive back at West Virginiafrom 1981-84, rising from a walk-on to scholarship player. • Coaching experience: Student assistant, West Virginia (1985),defensive backs/special teams coach, Salem College (1986);assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, Salem College (1987);head coach, Salem College (1988); outside linebackers coach, WestVirginia (1989); head coach, Glenville State (1990-96); offensivecoordinator, Tulane (1997-98); offensive coordinator, Clemson(1999-2000); head coach, West Virginia (2001-07); head coach,Michigan (2008-10). • Coaching record: 120-84-2 (2-8 at Salem, 43-28-2 at GlenvilleState, 60-26 at West Virginia, 15-22 at Michigan) • Personal: Is married to Rita; they have two children, Raqueland Rhett Cost to compete? Firing a coach is expensive, but hiring one is even more costly.Here’s a look at the money involved in Mike Stoops’ dismissal andRich Rodriguez’s hiring. $1.4 million - Mike Stoops’ 2010 salary $1.4 million - Cost of Stoops’ buyout, on top of his 2010salary, when he was fired Oct. 10. $2.5 million - Price Michigan paid West Virginia for rights tohire Rodriguez in 2007. Rodriguez paid the other $1.5 million of a$4 million buyout. 6 years, $15 million - Terms of Rodriguez’s contract at Michiganwhen he was hired. $2.5 million - Cost of Rodriguez’s buyout when Michigan firedhim following the 2010 season. $1.5-$2 million - Arizona’s reported annual budget for its newhead coach.