CHAMPAIGN — At the start of 2018, Rod Smith had a good job in a Power 5 program, serving as co-offensive coordinator to Rich Rodriguez at Arizona.
By Jan. 2, Rodriguez was gone, fired by the Wildcats in the midst of sexual harassment allegations.
Smith, who worked for Rodriguez at both Arizona and Michigan, is the new offensive coordinator at Illinois. He received a two-year contract with an annual salary of $500,000. Smith replaces fired Garrick McGee.
Would Smith have stayed at Arizona if Rodriguez was still in charge?
"That's hard to say because there are always opportunities that come around every year," Smith said on Saturday.