Rick Neuheisel wanted to coach again, and he's gotten the opportunity.
Congratulations are in order for former University of Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel, who has been named as the head coach of the United Football League's Dallas Renegades.
Per Todd Archer of ESPN:
The UFL has named Rick Neuheisel as head coach of the Dallas Renegades, replacing Bob Stoops. Neuheisel last coached in the AAF in 2019. As coach at UCLA, Washington and Colorado, he had an 87-59 record. He will continue as a college football analyst for CBS Sports.
This is what Neuheisel wanted
The former Huskies head coach made it clear that he missed coaching in an early December interview with 93.3 KJR, and he made it known that he was interested in the vacant Washington State job after Jimmy Rogers departed for Iowa State.
He did not get that job, which ended up going to Kirby Moore, but the discussion certainly got Neuheisel's name back in the general coaching consciousness.
About Neuheisel
Neuheisel spent 12 years as a Division I head coach between Colorado, Washington and UCLA, however, he hasn't been a collegiate head coach since 2011. Lifetime, he is 87-58, and he went 33-16 at Washington over a four-year period from 1999-2002. He has been to eight career bowl games, winning five of them. He went 2-2 in bowl games at UW, winning the Rose Bowl in 2000.
As Archer mentioned, he did coach in the Alliance of American Football in 2019.
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About the UFL
The UFL is a developmental spring football league which begins its season in March. The Renegades will begin play on March 29, playing a 10-week regular season that ends on June 1.
What he's saying
Per a press release from the league:
“I am elated to join the UFL as the head coach of the Dallas Renegades,” said Neuheisel. “I have been a big believer in spring football since its inception with the USFL back in the 80’s when I played quarterback for the San Antonio Gunslingers. It was a thrill then and it is a thrill now. While it is not easy to follow in the footsteps of Bob Stoops, it is really exciting to join the incredible sports scene in Dallas, Texas. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Also on campus
--The UW men's basketball team defeated former Pac-12 rival Utah on Monday night as part of a doubleheader at Alaska Airlines Arena. That marks the second straight victory for UW after a disappointing loss to Seattle U before the holiday. They'll be back in action on Jan. 4 at Indiana.
--The UW women's team defeated Northwestern on Monday night as junior Sayvia Sellers became the 32nd member of the 1,000-point club.
--The NCAA college football transfer portal opens up this week, and like all teams, Washington will be affected. However, Jedd Fisch staying at the school and not ending up at Michigan should go a long way toward helping keep the roster in tact. The Huskies went 9-4 this season, suffering losses against Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon and Wisconsin. They ended up winning the LA Bowl by defeating Boise State and should be contenders in the Big Ten in 2026.
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