Attorneys for former Wildcats football coach Rich Rodriguez have released a copy of the βHideaway Book,β which Rodriguezβs former assistant referenced in a December sexual harassment claim.
While Melissa Wilhelmsenβs claim described the book as a tool used to establish secrecy within Rodriguezβs circle and wield control over the group, the book produced by Rodriguezβs attorneys in their response to the claim paints a very different picture.
Copies of the βHideaway Bookβ from 2012 and 2015 obtained by the Star from attorneys detail the football programβs objectives, strategies for the season and job duties for every staff member and player.
The βObjectives of Hideaway,β listed in the 2015 book, are making sure every person in the program understands their responsibility and what theyβll be accountable for, to ensure βeveryone is on the βsame pageβ on all aspects of the programβ and to discuss problems and solutions to better the program.
There were four pages of expectations for staff, with βloyaltyβ at the top of the list.
The book specifies that employees are not to publicly criticize anyone in the program and will defend each other in public, saying, βman on street knocks a coach, donβt just shrug it off.β
βWe will succeed or fail with LOYALTY between men in here and their wives/families,β the book says.
In her claims against Rodriguez and the UA, Wilhelmsen said that Rodriguezβs inner circle β consisting of her, former assistant coach Charlie Ragle and analyst Miguel Reveles β referred to themselves as the βTriangle of Secrecy.β
While the book doesnβt mention a βTriangle of Secrecy,β it appears from the book that secrecy was still something of a priority.
In a section called βNo staff secrets out of the office,β Rodriguez detailed what he considers private information: βDiscussions of personnel, problems and disagreements, be careful what you tell your wives, be careful what you say to the media (nothing is off the record) and tell your players to stay in-house as well.β
The book lists specific rules regarding dress code, saying that slacks, dress shoes and golf shirts are required when school is in session and that staff should wear as much Arizona gear as possible.
One of the largest portions of the βstaff expectationsβ section was employee conduct.
Directions to staff include βbe careful of profane language around office, secretaries and publicβ and βdonβt curse at players β you can yell at what he does or doesnβt do but donβt make it personal.β
Employees are also directed to not embarrass the program or fellow coaches with drunkenness, DUI and embarrassing actions in public, and to βremember, you are a leader of young men.β
In a section called βwives,β the book explains that staff membersβ wives are βone of the most important assets to a coachβ and βoften set your temperament and focus.β
βEducate her and control her talk. She must understand our program, jobs, town and state,β the book says. βBe careful what you say to them. Make sure they are loyal to the staff and the program.β
The book also details off and on-field discipline, saying that the coaching staff will ensure that athletes not embarrass the school, themselves or their families with any βimproper conduct.β
In the 2012 βHideaway Book,β under a section about staff conduct, Rodriguez tells coaches itβs good to be involved in church, and although itβs voluntary, it sets a good example for the players.
Wilhelmsenβs claim says that the secretive environment created by the book led way to people saying things to the effect of βTitle IX doesnβt exist in our office,β but a search of the 2012 and 2015 books showed that the words βTitle IXβ didnβt appear in either.
Wilhelmsenβs attorney, Augustine Jimenez, has not responded to the Starβs request for comment on the discrepancies presented by the different descriptions of the bookβs purpose and contents.