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Rick Neuheisel
Rick Neuheisel
Rick Neuheisel
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Richard Gerald Neuheisel Jr. (/ˈnuːhaɪzəl/; born February 7, 1961) is an American football analyst, coach, and former player. He served as the head football coach at the University of Colorado Boulder from 1995 to 1999, at the University of Washington from 1999 to 2002, and at his alma mater, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), from 2008 to 2011, compiling a career college football coaching record of 87–59. From 2005 to 2007, Neuheisel was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL), as quarterbacks coach for two seasons and offensive coordinator for one. He formerly served as head coach for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) before the collapse of the league. Before coaching, Neuheisel played quarterback for the UCLA Bruins from 1980 to 1983, then spent two seasons with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League (USFL) before splitting the 1987 NFL season between the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Neuheisel was born in Madison, Wisconsin, one of four children and the only son of Dick and Jane (Jackson) Neuheisel, with sisters Nancy, Katie, and Deborah. Dick is an attorney and Rick grew up in Tempe, Arizona, and graduated from McClintock High School in 1979. He lettered in three sports (football, basketball, baseball) and was named its outstanding athlete during his senior year.

Playing career

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Collegiate

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Neuheisel played his college football at UCLA, beginning his career as a walk-on and holding placekicks for John Lee. He was the starting quarterback in his senior year in the 1983 season. UCLA opened with a loss at Georgia, a tie with Arizona State and then a 42–10 loss at #1-ranked Nebraska. Neuheisel was benched after the Nebraska loss in favor of Steve Bono. On October 1, the Bruins lost to BYU to start the season 0–3–1. Bono was injured during the Stanford game, and Neuheisel came back to finish the season.[1] Neuheisel led the Bruins to an eventual 6–4–1 record, culminating with a win over arch-rival USC that, combined with Washington State's upset of Washington, gave UCLA the Pac-10 championship in 1983 and sent them to the Rose Bowl on January 2, 1984.

Neuheisel led the Bruins to a 45–9 victory over 4th-ranked and heavily favored Illinois in the 1984 Rose Bowl, in which he was named the MVP; two of his four touchdown passes were caught by a sophomore wide receiver from San Diego named Karl Dorrell, a future Neuheisel assistant coach and later his predecessor as the UCLA head coach.[2] The victory vaulted the Bruins, unranked through most of the season, into the top 20 in wire service polls. Much like his rise to stardom at UCLA, the road to the victory was a bumpy one. Neuheisel and two other players on the defensive side of the ball suffered from food poisoning hours before the Rose Bowl and it was unsure that Neuheisel would start. Neuheisel would end up starting the game. He also set an NCAA record that year for single game pass completion percentage (since broken) by completing 25 of 27 passes (92.6%) in a Pac-10 win over Washington. In 1998, Neuheisel was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Neuheisel was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic team and graduated from UCLA in May 1984 with a B.A. in political science and a 3.4 GPA. Neuheisel still holds the UCLA single season record for completion percentage, completing 185 of 267 passes (69.3%) for 2,245 yards in the 1983 season. He was also a member of Sigma Nu fraternity while a student.

Professional

[edit]

Neuheisel bypassed the 1984 NFL draft and joined the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL, where he played the 1984 and 1985 seasons as the Gunslingers' starter. Never considered a major NFL prospect, he went undrafted in the NFL's supplemental draft of USFL players and his career in that league was extremely brief, lasting only five weeks. In the 1987 season, Neuheisel signed with the San Diego Chargers as a replacement player during the three-game long players' strike. He spent the last two weeks of that season as a backup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not playing in either game.

Coaching career

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Early years as assistant

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While attending USC Law School on an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Neuheisel served as a graduate assistant with UCLA, where he tutored Troy Aikman. He graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from USC in 1990 [3] and passed the Arizona State Bar in May 1991 and the Washington, D.C. Bar in March 1993.

He later became a full-time assistant coach in 1988, and stayed at UCLA through the 1993 season as the quarterback coach. Hard feelings emerged with UCLA coach Terry Donahue in 1994, when Donahue picked Texas A&M assistant Bob Toledo to be the Bruins' offensive coordinator over Neuheisel.[4] In 1994, Neuheisel moved to Colorado as an assistant to Bill McCartney. Neuheisel and Donahue had a chance meeting at the airport in Dallas in 1999, and resolved their differences.[4]

Colorado (1995–1998)

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McCartney retired following the 1994 season and Neuheisel, age 34, was named the head coach. He stayed for four seasons (1995–1998) in Boulder as the Buffs coach. His best season was his first, in which the Buffs tied for second in the final season of Big Eight Conference play and won the Cotton Bowl. His only losing season at Colorado was 1997; the Buffs were expected to be national title contenders, but never recovered from a blowout loss to Michigan on national television. After the season, the Buffs were forced to forfeit their five wins due to an ineligible player, though Neuheisel was subsequently ruled to not be affected.

Washington (1999–2002)

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Neuheisel was welcomed into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame before the 1999 Rose Bowl.[5] University of Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges took the opportunity to meet with him. She fired coach Jim Lambright and named Neuheisel as his replacement.[6] Neuheisel left for Seattle in January 1999 to coach at the University of Washington for four seasons (1999–2002). His starting salary was $1,000,000 annually, at the time one of the five highest in the nation.[6] One of Neuheisel's first acts was to restore the Huskies' traditional gold helmets; they had worn purple helmets for the previous four seasons.

In the 2000 season, the Huskies won the Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl over Big Ten champ Purdue, led by quarterback Drew Brees. Their only loss was to the rival Oregon Ducks. Washington, led by senior quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, the Rose Bowl MVP, finished the season at 11–1 and was ranked third in the final national polls. Neuheisel became the first (and as of 2016 only) former Rose Bowl MVP to coach a winning Rose Bowl team.

In 2008, The Seattle Times ran a series of articles which accused Neuheisel and athletic director Barbara Hedges of overlooking numerous discipline problems—including outright criminal behavior—during the 2000 season.[7] During that year, UW safety Curtis Williams was allowed to play despite being issued an outstanding arrest warrant for assaulting his wife, Michelle.[7] Linebacker Jeremiah Pharms was under investigation for robbing and shooting a drug dealer after police found his fingerprints at the scene, but was not charged until the season was over.[7] Jerramy Stevens, the Huskies star tight end, was under investigation of raping a UW freshman on sorority row.[7] When Stevens later crashed his truck into a retirement home, Neuheisel suspended him for half a game.[7]

In August 2002, Neuheisel signed a six-year contract extension, through the 2008 season.[8] In February 2003, he secretly interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers coaching job without telling anyone at UW about it. The 49ers' general manager was Terry Donahue, who had been Neuheisel's head coach as a player and assistant coach at UCLA. A day after his interview, he issued a statement through UW's athletic department saying he wasn't interested in the job. However, a few days later, a Seattle newspaper reporter wrote that he'd eavesdropped on a private conversation of Neuheisel discussing the 49ers job on his cell phone while the two were waiting for a flight at San Francisco International Airport. When Hedges found out about it, she and school president Lee Huntsman warned him that further lies would not be tolerated.[9]

NCAA infractions at Washington

[edit]

Before Neuheisel coached his first game for the Huskies, he had already violated NCAA recruiting rules by visiting high school players before the NCAA approved date to do so.[10] In the summer of 2003, Neuheisel came under fire for taking part in a neighborhood pool for the 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and lies he told about his actions. He first denied the accusation to investigators before admitting to it after consultation with school officials. The gambling case became a local sensation when it was revealed that he had received an internal UW memo which authorized gambling in off-campus tournament basketball pools. UW athletic director Barbara Hedges learned that the NCAA was considering giving Neuheisel a two-year show-cause order, which would have effectively blacklisted him from the coaching ranks for two years. She then gave Neuheisel an ultimatum—resign or be fired for cause. He refused, and was fired on June 11.[11]

That fall, the NCAA infractions committee found Neuheisel violated NCAA rules against gambling but didn't sanction him, citing the memo by Washington's then compliance officer, Dana Richardson, that mistakenly identified this type of action as a permissible exception to NCAA gambling sanctions.[12] It also became apparent that the NCAA violated its own rules when questioning Neuheisel about the gambling. UW had its probation extended for failing to monitor its football program.[13][14]

Neuheisel sued both the NCAA and the University of Washington concerning the termination of his employment contract. Toward the end of trial, it was revealed that the NCAA had failed to turn over certain crucial evidence to Neuheisel's attorneys. The new evidence (updated NCAA bylaws pertaining to rules investigations) bolstered Neuheisel's claim that the NCAA acted improperly during its investigation that eventually led to his firing. With the new evidence revealed, the NCAA and University of Washington requested to settle before the case went to the jury. The settlement awarded Neuheisel $4.5 million, consisting of cash payments and some loan forgiveness. He served as a volunteer coach for Rainier Beach High School in Seattle for two seasons (2003–2004).

Baltimore Ravens assistant (2005–2007)

[edit]

Neuheisel became an assistant coach (quarterbacks) with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens in January 2005. In 2006, the Ravens acquired quarterback Steve McNair and won the AFC North division with a 13–3 record. After the season, Neuheisel was promoted to offensive coordinator.

UCLA (2008–2011)

[edit]

Neuheisel was invited to two interviews regarding the head coaching position at his alma mater UCLA, following the firing of his former UCLA teammate, Karl Dorrell.[15] Ravens head coach Brian Billick assured that he would allow Neuheisel to leave the team before the completion of the 2007 NFL season.[16] Other candidates in which UCLA showed interest and interviewed included: Oregon Ducks Coach Mike Bellotti, Temple Owls Coach Al Golden, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, UCLA's defensive coordinator and interim coach DeWayne Walker, and then-Philadelphia Eagles assistant John Harbaugh.[17]

On December 29, 2007, Neuheisel was introduced as the head coach of the UCLA Bruins in a five-year contract that paid him $1.25 million per season and included incentives that could add $500,000 a year.[18] He immediately began to consolidate his coaching staff by retaining DeWayne Walker, Karl Dorrell's defensive coordinator and interim coach for the Bruins 2007 bowl game.[19] He made a major move by hiring Norm Chow, offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans and previously the offensive coordinator of crosstown rival USC's 2003 and 2004 national championship seasons.[20] He also began to make himself highly visible to the media, including appearing at the 2008 Rose Bowl[21] and coining the phrase "Passion Bucket" during an interview on The Dan Patrick Show by saying, "When you're at UCLA, you have to have your passion bucket full when you play the Trojans." He also appeared in an ad created by the UCLA athletics marketing department that declared, "The Football Monopoly in L.A. Is Officially Over"[22] and engineered an agreement with Pete Carroll that allows both UCLA and USC to wear their home jerseys during the annual game.[23] This home jersey arrangement begat a rule change for the 2009 football season.[24]

Neuheisel had his first win on September 1 with the Bruins as they defeated #18 Tennessee, 27–24. The win came in overtime as Tennessee's field goal try sailed wide left.[25] However, the team's momentum came to a halt in successive weeks. A brutal 59–0 defeat on the road at the hands of #15 BYU was followed by a disappointing 31–10 loss at home to unranked Arizona in the Bruins' Pac-10 opener. The UCLA offense failed to score a touchdown in either contest. The team finished the season 4–8 overall and 3–6 in conference.

Despite this record, Neuheisel was still able secure the fifth-best recruiting class in the nation in 2009 as rated by Scout.com. The class was headlined by two former USC commits, Morrell Presley and Randall Carroll, offensive linemen Xavier Sua-Filo and Stan Hasiak, and running back Damien Thigpen. Nevertheless, the Bruins fell to 4–8 in 2010, losing six of their last seven games and failing to receive a bowl berth. Player injuries and other attrition depleted UCLA of its roster depth, while true freshmen were forced into action and seniors who were previously reserves became starters; a quarterback who had attempted only 17 passes in his career became the starter.[26] At the end of the season Neuheisel fired two assistant coaches, including Chow, and said he would "be crushed ... if we're not going to a bowl game a year from now." [27]

The 2011 season record improved to 6–6 in regular season play. The Bruins won the first Pac-12 South Division title, as crosstown rival USC was ineligible due to NCAA sanctions. A shocking 50–0 shutout loss to USC to end the regular season—UCLA's fifth consecutive loss to the Trojans—prompted speculation that Neuheisel would be fired.

Neuheisel was fired as head coach of UCLA on November 28, 2011. He was allowed to coach his final game, the Pac-12 Championship Game on December 2, where the team lost by a score of 49–31 to the Oregon Ducks.[28]

Alliance of American Football (2019)

[edit]

In May 2018, Neuheisel was announced as head coach for the Arizona Hotshots, a Phoenix-based team for the planned Alliance of American Football. The team played at Sun Devil Stadium in Neuheisel's home state of Arizona.[29] Neuheisel led the team to a 5–3 record before the league folded in the middle of its inaugural season.

Broadcasting career

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In December 2011, Neuheisel joined the CBS Sports Network as a guest analyst for their "Inside College Football" show.[30]

In May 2012, the Pac-12 Network announced that he would be joining their networks as a studio analyst and a football game analyst starting with the 2012 football season.[31]

In March 2015, Neuheisel was hired by CBS Sports to be an analyst on College Football Today, the pre-game show for the SEC on CBS.[32]

Personal life

[edit]

Neuheisel and his wife, Susan (née Wilkinson), have three sons: Jerry (b. 1992), Jack (b. 1994), and Joe (b. 1997). Jerry was a quarterback at UCLA[33] and is currently their interim offensive coordinator,[34] and Jack was a wide receiver at Southern Methodist University.[35] Both Jerry and Jack graduated from Loyola High School in Los Angeles, Joe also attended UCLA. Rick's father, Richard "Dick" Gerald Neuheisel Sr., is an attorney and past president of Sister Cities International.[36][37] During Neuheisel's years as a quarterback for UCLA, his sister, Nancy, was a cheerleader for conference rival Arizona.

Head coaching record

[edit]

NCAA

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Colorado Buffaloes (Big Eight Conference) (1995)
1995 Colorado 10–2 5–2 T–2nd W Cotton 4 5
Colorado Buffaloes (Big 12 Conference) (1996–1998)
1996 Colorado 10–2 7–1 2nd (North) W Holiday 8 8
1997 Colorado 5–6[n 1] 3–5 T–4th (North)
1998 Colorado 8–4 4–4 4th (North) W Aloha
Colorado: 33–14 19–12
Washington Huskies (Pacific-10 Conference) (1999–2002)
1999 Washington 7–5 6–2 2nd L Holiday
2000 Washington 11–1 7–1 T–1st W Rose† 3 3
2001 Washington 8–4 6–2 T–2nd L Holiday 19 19
2002 Washington 7–6 4–4 T–4th L Sun
Washington: 33–16 23–9
UCLA Bruins (Pacific-10/Pac-12 Conference) (2008–2011)
2008 UCLA 4–8 3–6 8th
2009 UCLA 7–6 3–6 8th W EagleBank
2010 UCLA 4–8 2–7 9th
2011 UCLA 6–7[n 2] 5–4 1st (South)[38][n 3] L Fight Hunger[n 2]
UCLA: 21–29 13–23
Total: 87–59
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

AAF

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
ARI 2019 5 3 0 .625

Notes

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References

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Bibliography

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Rick Neuheisel

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Richard "Rick" Neuheisel (born February 7, 1961) is an American analyst, attorney, and former coach and player, best known for leading the to victory in the Game as and for his head coaching tenures at the , , and UCLA. Neuheisel was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and raised in Tempe, Arizona, where he attended McClintock High School before walking on to the UCLA football team in 1979. As a for the Bruins from 1979 to 1983, he earned the starting role in his senior year, completing 198 of 291 passes for 2,480 yards and 15 s while setting a school record for completion percentage at .683. In the , he orchestrated a 45–9 upset over , throwing four passes—including a Rose Bowl record-tying performance—and earning MVP honors with 22 completions out of 31 attempts for 298 yards. Neuheisel graduated from UCLA in 1984 with a in and later earned a law degree from the in 1990; he is married to Susan Neuheisel, with whom he has three sons: Jerry, Jack, and Joe. After brief stints in professional football and , Neuheisel transitioned to , beginning as an assistant at UCLA from 1988 to 1993, where he worked with quarterbacks and wide receivers. He then moved to as quarterbacks coach in 1994 before becoming the Buffaloes' from 1995 to 1998, compiling a 33–14 record (.702 winning percentage) and guiding the team to the 1995 Cotton Bowl victory. From 1999 to 2002, he led the to a 33–16 mark (.673), including a championship win over Purdue and three top-10 national rankings. Neuheisel served as quarterbacks coach and for the NFL's from 2005 to 2007 before returning to UCLA as from 2008 to 2011, where he posted a 21–28 record amid program challenges. Overall, his college career yielded an 87–58 record across eight appearances. In recognition of his 1984 Rose Bowl performance, Neuheisel was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1998. Since 2015, he has worked as a college football studio analyst for , contributing to programs such as College Football Today and Inside College Football, following an earlier role with the .

Early life and education

Early life

Richard Gerald Neuheisel Jr. was born on February 7, 1961, in . He was the only son of "Dick" Neuheisel, an attorney and graduate, and Jane Neuheisel (née Jackson), with three sisters: Nancy, Kate, and Deborah. His father, who had been a star athlete in football, , and during his own high school years in Cashton, Wisconsin, provided a strong familial influence on athletic pursuits. Dick Neuheisel passed away on March 27, 2025, at the age of 88. In 1963, when Neuheisel was two years old, the family relocated from Wisconsin to Tempe, Arizona, after his father accepted a teaching position at Arizona State University. The move marked the beginning of the family's long-term residence in Tempe, where they became deeply involved in community activities; Dick later founded the Tempe Sister Cities organization and the Tempe Oktoberfest, while serving as a city councilmember. The Neuheisels maintained a close-knit dynamic, with parents emphasizing education, , and family support amid their growing household. Neuheisel developed an early interest in during his childhood in Tempe, drawing inspiration from his father's athletic background and the active lifestyle encouraged within the . This foundation in sports and family values shaped his formative years leading into high school athletics.

High school career

Rick Neuheisel attended McClintock High School in , graduating in 1979. As a multi-sport athlete, he lettered in football, , and during his high school career. In football, he served as the varsity for the Chargers; in , he played as a guard; and in , he competed as a , , and pitcher. His versatility across these sports highlighted his athletic prowess, and in his senior year, he was recognized as McClintock's most outstanding athlete. Academically, Neuheisel maintained a strong performance, achieving a 3.9 grade point average that qualified him for membership in the as a senior. This academic excellence, combined with his athletic accomplishments, positioned him well for opportunities despite his relatively modest physical stature for elite football recruiting standards at the time. Neuheisel's high school success drew limited interest from major college programs, as recruiters largely overlooked him due to concerns about his size and speed. He ultimately decided to attend UCLA, where his academic credentials and determination earned him a spot as a walk-on quarterback.

Collegiate education

Neuheisel enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1979, initially as a walk-on to the football team while pursuing a degree in political science. Throughout his undergraduate years, he balanced rigorous academic demands with the intense schedule of collegiate athletics, earning recognition for his scholarly performance including Pac-10 All-Academic honors in his senior year and a 3.4 grade point average, the highest among UCLA quarterbacks at the time. This dual commitment highlighted his ability to manage the pressures of student-athlete life, where football practices and games often competed with coursework in political science. He completed his in in May 1984. Following a brief professional football stint in the United States Football League, Neuheisel utilized an NCAA postgraduate scholarship to enroll at the ( in 1986, where he also served as a volunteer at UCLA. Neuheisel graduated from USC Law School with a Juris Doctor in 1990 and was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in May 1991. As initial steps in his legal career, he briefly joined his father's , Neuheisel & Neuheisel, in , before transitioning to full-time coaching roles.

Playing career

Collegiate

Neuheisel arrived at UCLA as a walk-on in 1979, initially serving as the holder for John Lee while working his way up the depth chart. Over his four seasons from 1980 to 1983, he appeared in games as a reserve before securing the starting role, compiling career totals of 198 completions on 291 attempts for 2,480 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. These figures placed him sixth on UCLA's all-time passing yards list at the time of his graduation. In his senior year of 1983, Neuheisel took over as the full-time starter midway through the season, leading the Bruins from an 0–3–1 start to a 7–4–1 finish that clinched the Pac-10 championship with a conference record. He threw for 2,245 yards and 13 touchdowns on 185 of 267 passes, achieving a school-record 69.3% completion rate and earning honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors. Neuheisel capped his college career in the , where he overcame food poisoning to direct a 45–9 upset victory over fourth-ranked , completing 22 of 31 passes for 298 yards and a Rose Bowl-record-tying four touchdowns. He was named the game's MVP for the performance, two of the scores going to future UCLA and NFL coach .

Professional

After graduating from UCLA, where his standout performance as a including a Rose Bowl MVP award opened doors to professional football, Neuheisel signed with the Gunslingers of the (USFL) in 1984. He served as the team's starting for both seasons of the franchise's existence, appearing in 33 games and starting 32. Neuheisel's USFL career was hampered by injuries, notably a broken hand sustained early in the 1984 season against the , which sidelined him temporarily and limited his overall effectiveness. Despite these setbacks, he compiled 450 passing completions on 806 attempts for 5,610 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 40 interceptions, along with 408 rushing yards and three scores, though the Gunslingers finished with a combined 12–24 record. Following the USFL's collapse after the 1985 season, Neuheisel attempted to transition to the , enrolling at USC Law School on an NCAA postgraduate scholarship while beginning his coaching career as a . In 1987, amid the players' , he signed with the as a , starting two of three games and posting a 67.8% completion rate on 59 attempts for 367 yards, one , and one . He later joined the ' for the remainder of the but saw no game action and was released after the season. These brief appearances marked the end of his professional playing days, with no significant starting roles or long-term contracts. Persistent injuries from his USFL tenure, combined with his pursuit of a —earned from USC in 1990—influenced Neuheisel's shift toward , where he could leverage his football acumen in a less physically demanding role.

Coaching career

Early assistant roles

After completing his professional playing career, which was limited by injuries and consisted of a brief stint with the in 1987, during which he also briefly joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' strike roster but did not play, Neuheisel transitioned to while pursuing a at the . In 1986, he began as a volunteer coach at his alma mater UCLA, where he tutored redshirt freshman quarterback , who had transferred from and was sitting out the season due to NCAA transfer rules. This role allowed Neuheisel to gain initial experience in player development under Terry Donahue, focusing on offensive fundamentals during his NCAA postgraduate scholarship period. By 1988, Neuheisel had secured a full-time assistant position at UCLA, initially coaching quarterbacks during Aikman's senior year, which culminated in a Pac-10 championship and a 1988 Cotton Bowl appearance. He remained on the Bruins' staff through 1993, shifting to wide receivers coach for his final four seasons (1990–1993), where he mentored standout players such as , who became a first-round NFL draft pick, and receivers Kevin Jordan and Sean LaChapelle. Over these six full-time years, Neuheisel contributed to UCLA's consistent offensive output, including multiple bowl berths, while balancing his legal studies and earning his J.D. in 1990. These experiences honed his emphasis on quarterback-receiver and player , foundational elements of his emerging philosophy rooted in aggressive, detail-oriented play-calling. In 1994, Neuheisel joined the as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach under , marking his move to a new program amid UCLA's staff changes. That season, he worked with quarterback and helped the Buffaloes achieve a 9–3 record, including a victory over No. 2 in a controversial finish, before earning promotion to the following year. During this early assistant phase, Neuheisel's roles solidified his reputation for developing skilled position players and adapting to high-stakes environments, influencing his later focus on balanced, opportunistic offenses.

Colorado Buffaloes (1995–1998)

Neuheisel was promoted to of the in December 1994 following the retirement of , becoming the youngest in a major program at age 34. During his four-year tenure from 1995 to 1998, Neuheisel compiled an overall record of 33–14 (.702 winning percentage), leading the Buffaloes to three bowl victories, including a 38–6 win over in the Cotton Bowl. His teams achieved back-to-back 10–2 seasons in and , with the 1995 campaign earning a No. 5 national ranking in both major polls and a 38–24 victory over Washington. The 1996 season highlighted the program's success, as Colorado tied for the Big 12 North Division championship with its 10–2 mark before the Cotton Bowl triumph. After a down year in 1997 (5–6), the Buffaloes rebounded to 8–4 in 1998, capped by a 51–43 win over . Neuheisel's recruiting efforts were instrumental in building the team's core, particularly his 1995 class, which formed the nucleus of the 1996 Cotton Bowl champions and included future NFL talents like Rashard Anderson and D.J. Hackett. On offense, he introduced innovative schemes such as a one-tight-end, three-receiver formation to emphasize passing and spread the field, shifting from Colorado's traditional run-heavy approach and boosting the team's scoring average to over 35 points per game in his first two seasons. Following the 1998 season, Neuheisel departed in January 1999 to accept the head coaching position at the , signing a seven-year contract worth approximately $1 million annually.

Washington Huskies (1999–2002)

Rick Neuheisel was hired as head coach of the on January 11, 1999, following a successful tenure at . Over four seasons from 1999 to 2002, he compiled an overall record of 33–16 (.673), with a 23–9 mark (.719) in Pac-10 play, leading the team to four bowl appearances and finishing first or second in the conference each year. Neuheisel's most notable achievement came in the 2000 season, when the Huskies went 11–1 and shared the Pac-10 title, marking their first conference championship since 1991. The team demonstrated remarkable resilience, rallying from deficits in eight of its victories, including five fourth-quarter comebacks. Washington capped the year with a 34–24 victory over Purdue in the , its first appearance in the game in eight years and securing a spot in the final top-three rankings. Neuheisel emphasized a balanced, high-powered offense that averaged more than 390 yards per game across his tenure, ranking 35th nationally in 2000 at 407.9 yards per game. His scheme leveraged the dual-threat abilities of , whom he developed into a versatile leader during the 2000 campaign. Tuiasosopo threw for 2,145 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 804 yards and 10 scores, earning Rose Bowl MVP honors with 138 passing yards and 75 rushing yards in the win over Purdue. This player development contributed to the Huskies' offensive versatility, blending pro-style passing concepts with option runs to exploit defenses. Early in his tenure, Neuheisel and his staff faced NCAA scrutiny for recruiting violations in 1999, including improper contacts with prospects such as a basketball-shooting contest with a recruit; the university self-imposed penalties, reducing his off-campus visits from 29 to nine in 2000, which the Pac-10 approved. In October 2002, the NCAA further restricted his recruiting for 51 minor violations from his time at , barring off-campus activities until May 2003. Neuheisel was fired on June 12, 2003, primarily for participating in high-stakes NCAA men's basketball tournament betting pools—a direct violation of NCAA rules prohibiting coaches from wagering on —and subsequently lying to investigators about his involvement. He later sued the university and NCAA for wrongful termination, settling in March 2005 for $4.5 million, with the NCAA contributing $2.5 million. Neuheisel's time at Washington revitalized a program coming off probation, delivering consistent bowl berths and a conference title that restored national prominence, though his departure amid controversies shifted the Huskies into a period of transition and further sanctions.

Baltimore Ravens (2005–2007)

Following a $4.5 million settlement in March 2005 with the University of Washington and the NCAA over his 2003 firing, which cleared the way for his return to professional football, Rick Neuheisel was hired as the Baltimore Ravens' quarterbacks coach on January 19, 2005, by head coach Brian Billick. Neuheisel's primary responsibility was to develop young quarterback Kyle Boller, whom he had attempted to recruit during his college coaching days, focusing on improving Boller's decision-making and mechanics amid the Ravens' efforts to revitalize their offense under new offensive coordinator Jim Fassel. In 2005, Boller started 15 games, throwing for 3,192 yards and 17 touchdowns while contributing to a balanced offensive scheme that emphasized a strong running game led by Jamal Lewis, though the team finished 6-10 overall. Neuheisel continued as quarterbacks coach in 2006, working with veteran after Boller was sidelined by injury, and helped integrate McNair into an offensive system that prioritized play-action passes and short, efficient routes to complement the ' elite defense. This approach propelled to a 13-3 regular-season record, an division title, and an appearance in the , where they fell 15-6 to the despite holding them to just 133 total yards. In January 2007, Neuheisel was promoted to while retaining his quarterbacks duties, overseeing the development of rookie , the 2006 winner, though the offense struggled in a 5-11 season marked by injuries and inconsistencies. Neuheisel's tenure bridged his college coaching background with professional schemes, bringing innovative passing concepts from his time at and Washington to enhance ' West Coast-style offense, which ranked among the league's more efficient units in 2006 with a 92.4 . His departure came on December 29, 2007, when he left mid-season to become at UCLA, just as the team prepared for a playoff game against the ; this move occurred amid broader staff upheaval following ' disappointing 2007 campaign, which led to Billick's firing in January 2008.

UCLA Bruins (2008–2011)

Rick Neuheisel was hired as head coach of the team on December 31, 2007, returning to his where he had starred as from 1982 to 1983, including leading the team to a 45–9 Rose Bowl victory over in 1984. The appointment came after the dismissal of , with Neuheisel selected for his prior success as a head coach at and Washington, as well as his familiarity with the program from six seasons as an assistant (1988–1993). Neuheisel signed a five-year contract worth approximately $1.25 million annually, with incentives tied to bowl appearances and victories. Over his four seasons from 2008 to 2011, Neuheisel compiled a 21–29 overall record (), including a 15–25 mark in Pac-10/Pac-12 play. The Bruins finished no higher than tied for eighth in the conference during his tenure, struggling particularly against rivals USC (0–4) and in road games (5–14). Neuheisel's first year ended 4–8, hampered by a young roster and defensive lapses that allowed an average of 30.5 points per game. In 2009, UCLA improved to 7–6 overall, securing a bowl berth for the first time under Neuheisel with a 30–21 win over Temple in the EagleBank . The campaign regressed to 4–8 amid offensive inconsistencies and injuries, finishing ninth in the Pac-10. Neuheisel's tenure faced significant challenges in reversing a decade-long decline in the program, which had posted a 48–60 record from 1998 to 2007 and lagged in facilities, , and compared to conference peers. He emphasized rebuilding through recruiting, assembling three consecutive top-15 national classes from 2008 to 2010 according to major scouting services, which brought in high-caliber talent like Damien Thigpen (2008 class) and defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa (2010 class). A highlight was quarterback development, particularly with , a four-star recruit from , whom Neuheisel signed in the 2011 class (ranked No. 18 nationally); Hundley redshirted in 2011 but went on to throw for over 10,000 yards in his UCLA career. Despite these efforts, on-field results were inconsistent, with the team plagued by poor turnover margins (minus-11 in 2011) and failure to sustain momentum against top competition. In 2011, UCLA achieved a 6–6 regular-season record (5–4 in Pac-12 play), clinching the Pac-12 South Division title due to USC's ineligibility from NCAA sanctions, despite the Trojans' superior 6–1 division mark. This marked the program's first division championship since 1998, propelled by a late-season surge including a 28–14 upset over Washington and a 31–14 win over Colorado. Neuheisel coached his final game in the Pac-12 Championship against Oregon on December 2, resulting in a 49–31 loss; the Bruins then fell 20–14 to Illinois in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl under interim coach Mike Johnson, finishing 6–8 overall. UCLA fired Neuheisel on November 28, 2011, two days after a 50–0 home loss to USC—the program's worst defeat in 81 years—citing the need for a fresh direction despite the division title. The university agreed to a $250,000 buyout of his remaining contract, settling the financial obligations without further dispute. Neuheisel's dismissal ended his second stint at UCLA on a bittersweet note, as his recruiting foundation laid the groundwork for future success under successor Jim Mora, though immediate turnaround efforts fell short of restoring the program to national contention.

Arizona Hotshots (2019)

In May 2018, Rick Neuheisel was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Hotshots, the Alliance of American Football (AAF) expansion team based in Tempe, Arizona, ahead of the league's inaugural 2019 season. Neuheisel, a former college head coach with experience at UCLA and Washington, assembled a staff that included offensive coordinator Hugh Freeze and emphasized a high-powered, versatile offense tailored to the AAF's rules, such as no kickoffs and a modified extra-point system. The Hotshots played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium on the Arizona State University campus, drawing on Neuheisel's local roots as a Tempe native. Under Neuheisel's leadership, the Hotshots compiled a 5–3 regular-season record, finishing tied for first in the Western Conference with a potent offense that ranked among the league's best. Quarterback John Wolford, a former Wake Forest standout, directed the attack with efficient passing and mobility, throwing for over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding key rushing contributions; he earned recognition as one of the AAF's top performers. Wide receiver Josh Huff provided explosive plays, including a pivotal catch-and-run that sparked a comeback, while running back Matt Asiata and kicker Nick Folk bolstered the scoring output, helping the team average nearly 23 points per game. Notable highlights included a 38–22 season-opening rout of the Salt Lake Stallions, featuring Wolford's three touchdown passes, and a 20–18 thriller against the Memphis Express in Week 2, where a late defensive stand secured the win despite trailing by 11 points midway through. The Hotshots also stunned the undefeated Orlando Apollos 26–23 in Week 6 with a go-ahead touchdown and fumble recovery in the final minutes, though they suffered a 20–8 loss to the San Antonio Commanders in their final game on March 31. The Hotshots' promising season ended abruptly when the AAF suspended operations on April 2, , after just eight weeks of play, citing financial difficulties and failing to reach the despite their strong standing. The league's collapse prevented Neuheisel's team from competing in the postseason, marking the end of the AAF after only one season. Following the shutdown, Neuheisel returned to his broadcasting career, resuming analysis roles in .

Broadcasting career

Early broadcasting roles (2011–2018)

Following his dismissal from UCLA in November 2011, Neuheisel transitioned swiftly to broadcasting, leveraging his extensive coaching experience to provide expert analysis on college football. In December 2011, he joined CBS Sports Network as a guest analyst on the show Inside College Football, where he discussed the ongoing season and previewed upcoming bowl games alongside host Adam Zucker and other analysts. This initial role marked his entry into media, allowing him to draw on his background as a former head coach at multiple Pac-10/12 programs to offer strategic insights. In May 2012, Neuheisel expanded his broadcasting presence by joining the as a football analyst shortly after its launch, a position secured through his connections in West Coast college athletics. He contributed to coverage of games, providing play-by-play and color commentary that highlighted tactical decisions and team dynamics informed by his prior roles at Washington and UCLA. His work extended to bowl events, where he analyzed postseason performances for Pac-12 teams, emphasizing regional rivalries and coaching strategies. Neuheisel's early broadcasting tenure from 2012 to 2015 at the earned him recognition for his engaging style, characterized by quick wit and unfiltered keen insights into West Coast football. In March 2015, he transitioned to as a full-time studio analyst, appearing on pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows such as College Football Today, while continuing contributions to programming through 2018. This period solidified his reputation for translating coaching expertise into accessible media commentary, focusing on game preparation and player development without the pressures of on-field leadership.

Current broadcasting roles (2019–present)

Since joining in 2015, Rick Neuheisel has served as a full-time studio analyst, contributing to College Football Today with pre-game, halftime, and post-game coverage of SEC matchups broadcast on the network. Following the collapse of the in 2019, where he had coached the , Neuheisel resumed his broadcasting duties, solidifying his role as a key voice in national analysis. His work encompasses studio segments on major games and broader conference discussions, drawing on his extensive experience for insights into strategy and player development. In 2025, Neuheisel continued to provide timely commentary on emerging talents and team performances. In August, he selected Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold as the top newcomer for the season, praising the transfer's accuracy and fit within Hugh Freeze's offensive system after a promising freshman year at . Later, in October, following State's 34-0 victory over , Neuheisel named the Buckeyes the best team in , citing their dominant defense and overall balance as key factors in their undefeated start. Neuheisel's broadcasts have also featured personal family connections, enhancing his on-air presence. On October 4, 2025, while analyzing UCLA's game against No. 7 Penn State from the studio, he openly celebrated his son Jerry's debut as the Bruins' offensive play-caller, which helped orchestrate a stunning 42-37 upset win—the team's first of the season after an 0-4 start. This moment, where Neuheisel admitted to viewing the game through "dad goggles," highlighted his enduring ties to UCLA, where he previously coached from 2008 to 2011, and underscored his evolution into a relatable national analyst blending professional expertise with genuine enthusiasm.

Personal life

Family

Rick Neuheisel has been married to Wilkinson, a UCLA graduate whom he met while both were students there, and the couple has three sons deeply involved in sports.[web:32][web:35] Their eldest son, Jerry, born in 1992, played quarterback for the from 2012 to 2015 before transitioning to coaching; he joined UCLA's staff as an offensive analyst in 2018 and was promoted to tight ends coach in 2024.[web:19][web:27] In October 2025, Jerry assumed play-calling duties as interim , leading the Bruins to a 42-37 upset victory over No. 7 Penn State in a game that highlighted the family's football legacy.[web:25][web:90] The Neuheisels' middle son, Jack, born in 1994, played for the after starring at Loyola High School in .[web:46] Their youngest, Joe, born in 1997, competed in at , where he earned All-America Scholar honors twice and participated in the 2021 NCAA Albuquerque Regional; he later won the 2022 Amateur Championship.[web:56][web:60] The family's longstanding connection to athletics has fostered a supportive environment, with Susan often crediting their shared passion for football as a bonding force during Neuheisel's coaching tenures.[web:30] Neuheisel's family provided steadfast support through his career shifts, including his 2011 dismissal from UCLA and subsequent move to broadcasting, where he drew on their encouragement to rebuild professionally.[web:35] This resilience was evident in family moments, such as the 2025 UCLA-Penn State broadcast, where Neuheisel, calling the game for , openly celebrated Jerry's sideline success with evident pride.[web:84] Neuheisel's father, Richard "Dick" Neuheisel Sr., an attorney and civic leader in , passed away on March 27, 2025, at age 88, leaving a profound legacy of community involvement that influenced his son's values.[web:67][web:72] The loss prompted reflections from Neuheisel on his father's role in shaping his dedication to family and football, amid the ongoing family achievements at UCLA.[web:15] After earning his degree from the Gould School of Law in 1990 through an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Neuheisel was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in May 1991 and the District of Columbia Bar in March 1993. Although licensed to practice, Neuheisel pursued a career in football coaching rather than full-time legal work, leveraging his legal training primarily in negotiating contracts and handling disputes within the profession. Neuheisel's legal acumen proved particularly useful during high-profile conflicts, such as his 2003 firing from the amid an NCAA investigation into his participation in betting pools. He filed a wrongful termination against the university and the NCAA, which settled in March 2005 for approximately $4.7 million, with the NCAA covering $2.5 million and Washington the remainder, including forgiven loan interest. Similarly, following his 2011 dismissal from UCLA after a 6-7 season, Neuheisel benefited from a contractual that provided financial stability during his transition, underscoring his foresight in structuring coaching agreements. These episodes highlighted how his background enabled effective navigation of employment disputes in college athletics. The nickname "Slick Rick," bestowed by media and detractors alike, stemmed from perceptions of his shrewd legal maneuvering and rule-bending tendencies in negotiations, often drawing on his to outmaneuver administrators. By the mid-1990s, however, Neuheisel had fully committed to coaching, serving as an assistant at UCLA before ascending to head coaching roles, eventually pivoting to after his final coaching stint with the in 2019.

Head coaching record

College

Neuheisel compiled an overall NCAA head coaching record of 87–59 over 12 seasons at three programs. At from 1995 to 1998, he posted a 33–14 mark; at Washington from 1999 to 2002, his teams went 33–16; and at UCLA from 2008 to 2011, the record stood at 21–29. In postseason play, Neuheisel's bowl record was 5–3 across eight appearances, including victories in the 1996 Cotton Bowl (defeating 38–6) and the (defeating Purdue 34–24). His teams captured three conference division or outright titles: co-champions of the Big 12 North in 1996 with (7–1 conference record, tied with ), Pac-10 champions in 2000 with Washington (7–1 conference record, tied with and Oregon State but selected as conference representative via tiebreakers), and Pac-12 South champions in 2011 with UCLA (5–4 regular season conference record, clinching the division due to USC's ineligibility from NCAA sanctions). The following table summarizes Neuheisel's yearly NCAA head coaching records:
YearTeamOverallConferencePostseason Result
199510–25–2 (T–2nd Big 8)W 38–6 vs. ()
199610–27–1 (T–1st North)W 51–30 vs. Washington ()
19975–6*3–5 (T–4th North)—
19988–45–3 (T–2nd North)W 28–17 vs. ()
1999Washington7–55–3 (T–3rd)L 20–24 vs. ()
2000Washington11–17–1 (T–1st)W 34–24 vs. Purdue (Rose)
2001Washington8–46–2 (T–2nd)L 7–20 vs. Syracuse ()
2002Washington7–64–4 (T–4th)L 14–38 vs. Purdue (Sun)
2008UCLA4–83–6 (T–7th)—
2009UCLA7–63–6 (T–7th)W 30–14 vs. Temple (EagleBank)
2010UCLA4–82–7 (9th)—
2011UCLA6–75–5† (1st South)L 31–49 vs. (Pac-12 Championship)
*1997 wins vacated by NCAA, official record 0–11. †2011 conference: 5–4 regular season, 5–5 including championship.

AAF

Neuheisel served as of the during the Alliance of American Football's (AAF) only season in 2019, leading the team to a 5–3 regular season record before the league suspended operations on April 2, 2019, due to financial issues. The Hotshots tied for first place in the Western Conference at the time of the suspension, with two games remaining in the schedule. Under Neuheisel's direction, the Hotshots demonstrated a potent rushing attack, leading the AAF with 1,133 rushing yards while finishing second in the league in total points (186) and (23.2). The team's offense also ranked second in total yards (2,751), highlighting Neuheisel's emphasis on a balanced and efficient scheme that propelled them to a strong divisional standing. The following table details the Hotshots' 2019 regular season results:
DateOpponentResultScore
February 10 (home)W38–22
February 16 (away)W20–18
February 23 (away)L15–23
March 3 (home)L11–14
March 10 (home)L25–29
March 16 (away)W22–17
March 24 (home)W32–15
March 31 (away)W23–6

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