Rich Rodriguez, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer and Woody Hayes make ESPN's list of 'most hated' coaches

By Nick Baumgardner University of Michigan Sports Reporter

Posted on Fri, May 25, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.

Ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel joined former Michigan boss Rich Rodriguez on ESPN's 10 'most hated' coaches list.

Associated Press

Three Buckeyes and one former Wolverine are among the most hated coaches in college football history, says one ESPN scribe.

Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez was joined by ex-Ohio State coaches Jim Tressel and Woody Hayes, as well as current OSU coach Urban Meyer, on ESPN's list of the 10 "most hated" college football coaches of all time.

"West Virginia fans absolutely loved Rodriguez, a former WVU defensive back, when he guided the Mountaineers to 60 victories and two BCS bowl games from 2001 to 2007," writes ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach. "But WVU fans literally drove Rodriguez and his family from his native state after he abruptly left the school to become Michigan’s coach in 2008.

"Wolverines fans don’t like him too much, either, after Rodriguez went 15-22 in three seasons."

It wasn't all bad for Rodriguez, though, as he finished No. 10 on the list. Meyer came in at No. 7, while Tressel entered the list at No. 9.

Hayes?

He sits behind only South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier on Schlabach's list.

"One of the most successful coaches in history, Hayes guided Ohio State to 13 Big Ten titles and three consensus national championships," Schlabach wrote. "But he is perhaps best remembered for his chronically boorish behavior, which included physical confrontations with sportswriters, photographers, opposing coaches and athletics directors, referees and even opposing players."

Tags: Rich Rodriguez, Wolverines,

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Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.