Rich Rodriguez and the Biggest High-Profile Coaching Busts Ever

As far as coaching hires go, Rich Rodriguez did a solid job of joining a rather exclusive list of terrible coaching performances.

High-profile hirings always have the potential to be boom or bust, but when they bust, it crashes like a ton of bricks.

Coaching gigs can go wrong for all sorts of reasons; some players don't fit, the coach doesn't get it, the coach and players don't get along, or worst of all, the coach is simply the wrong hire.

Here is a look at 15 of biggest coaching busts of all time.

15. Jim Zorn: Washington Redskins

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Jim Zorn of the Washington Redskins at Cowboys Stadium on November 22, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Owner Daniel Snyder's fourth hire since owning the team did not work out, as Jim Zorn was 12-20 in two seasons as head coach of the Washington Redskins

After an 8-8 season in 2008, Zorn lost his play-calling duties six games into 2009. After the season's final game, he was fired.

Zorn never meshed in Washington and his hire was simply the wrong move.

14. Lenny Wilkens: New York Knicks

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Stephon Marbury #3 of the New York Knicks speaks with head coach Lenny Wilkins while playing against the Atlanta Hawks on November 23, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 104-88. NOTE TO

The Hall of Fame player and coach took over in New York on January 14, 2004. A little over one year later, 81 games into his stint as the man in New York, he resigned as head coach.

He did make the playoffs on the back end of the 2004 season, but was swept out in the first round. He finished his time in New York with a 40-41 record and a 0-4 playoff record.

The Hall of Famer couldn't fix the Knicks and he passed them on to the next unlucky guy to get the job.

13. Lane Kiffin: Tennessee Volunteers

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Coach Lane Kiffin of the Tennessee Volunteers watches pre-game warmups before the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hokies beat the Volunteers 37-14

Lane Kiffin has been quite a controversial coaching figure since being fired from the Oakland Raiders in 2008.

Kiffin, at 33-years of age, was hired to be the successor to Phillip Fulmer at the University of Tennessee. His first year was mediocre, however, and the Volunteers 7-6 in 2009 was not enough to keep Kiffin around as he bolted for USC when Pete Carroll went to the NFL.

The Volunteers were sent into a tailspin for a coaching candidate, leaving the students and fans in a riot on campus.

12. Charlie Weis: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis points to the replay during their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Weis' ride at Notre Dame started great with a 19-6 record. The following three years were downhill, however, and he never gained enough traction to keep it working in South Bend.

A career 35-27 record with one bowl victory in five seasons is not enough to get it done at the prestigious Notre Dame University, and Weis was at fired at the end of 2009.

11. Jerry Tarkanian: San Antonio Spurs

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23 Nov 2001: Head Coach Jerry Tarkanian of the Fresno State Bulldogs stands to watch the play against the Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Fresno State defeated Michigan State 63-58.Mandatory C

In 1992, the long time college coach was hired by the San Antonio Spurs.

Following a dispute over an experienced point guard for the team, Tarkanian was fired 20 games into the season with a 9-11 record.

John Lucas II came in and coached the Spurs to playoffs in place of Tarkanian.

10. Rich Rodriguez: Michigan Wolverines

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ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Rich Rodriguez of the Michigan Wolverines leaves the field after losing 28-48 to the Wisconson Badgers at Michigan Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Rodriguez was brought in from West Virginia after winning four Big East titles in seven seasons. In three full seasons in Ann Arbor, though, Rodriguez went 15-22 with only six wins in the Big Ten.

One winning season, 2010, and one bowl appearance were not nearly enough to save Rich Rod's job.

9. Magic Johnson: Los Angeles Lakers

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20 Apr 1994: Los Angeles Lakers head coach Earvin (Magic) Johnson looks on during a game against the Seattle Supersonics at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. Mandatory Credit: J. D. Cuban /Allsport Mandatory Credit: J. D. Cuban /Allspor

In the 1993-1994 season, the Los Angeles Lakers missed the postseason for the first time since 1976.

During that season, Magic Johnson was the successor to Randy Pfund and his 28-38 record.

Magic did not fare too well (albeit the Lakers were not very good) and he stopped coaching at the end of the season with only a 5-11 record.

8. Bill Belichick: New York Jets

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on in the first half against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Belichick never actually coached the New York Jets.

Following Bill Parcell's final season in New York, the successor was supposed to be Belichick.

One day after announcing the hire, Belichick stepped to the podium and announced his resignation as the coach of the New York Jets.

He promptly signed with the New England Patriots to be their coach; It cost New England a first round pick. 

A small price to pay for three Super Bowl championships.

7. Lou Holtz: New York Jets

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30 Nov 1996: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz looks on during a game against the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. USC won the game, 27-20.

The famed Fighting Irish coach was given a shot at the pros back in 1976 with the New York Jets.

After a 3-10 record, though, Holtz quit with one game left in the season.

While he was not yet the coach he was noted for being at Notre Dame, he did have success with N.C. State and a 33-12-2 record prior to this hiring.

6. Larry Brown: New York Knicks

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Larry Brown of the Charlotte Bobcats pionts to his team against the New York Knicks during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 30, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Im

Larry Brown tried his hand at fixing the New York Knicks under Isiah Thomas' rule, but it did not go well.

Brown butted heads with several of his players during his one season in New York, most notably the uncoachable Stephon Marbury, and finished with a horrendous 23-59 record.

Brown was fired in June of 2006.

5. George O'Leary: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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1 Jan 1999: Head Coach George O''Leary of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in action during the Toyota Gator Bowl Game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Fighting Irish 35-

In 2001, O'Leary left Georgia Tech to become the next coach of the Fighting Irish.

A few days later, his resume was found to be falsified and he was asked to resign.

O'Leary never stepped foot on the field for his "dream job".

4. Dick MacPherson: New England Patriots

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1 Dec 1991: New England Patriots head coach Dick MacPherson looks on during a game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won the game, 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Tim DeFrisco /Allsport

After several successful years at the college level, MacPherson was supposed to be a hit as the Patriots new coach.

After taking a 1-15 team to 6-10 and a Coach of the Year Award, he went 2-14 in his second season.

MacPherson was fired at season's end due to differences in philosophy on how the team should be built.

3. Lane Kiffin: Oakland Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the Oakland Raiders pumps his fist against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL game on September 28, 2008 at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Lane Kiffin was supposed to be the big hit youngster for Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders; so much for that.

A 5-15 record in one and a quarter seasons was not what the Raiders organization had in mind.

Following a much-publicized rumor of being fired, or forced to resign, behind accusations of lying and dishonor, an arbitrator ruled against Kiffin claiming Davis was just in his firing.

2. Steve Spurrier: Washington Redskins

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Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier on the sidelines at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida, August 8, 2002. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

After leaving a ton of success behind at Florida in 2001, Spurrier gave it a shot with Dan Snyder in Washington.

Snyder signed him to a 5 year, $25 million deal.

Two years and a 12-20 record later, Spurrier realized the NFL game was not for him and he shipped himself back to the college ranks a few years after.

1. Bobby Petrino: Atlanta Falcons

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CHARLOTTE - NOVEMBER 11: Head coach Bobby Petrino of the Atlanta Falcons looks on during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2007 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The ultimate sense of failure, Petrino did not last one full season in the NFL.

After a 3-10 start to the 2007 season, he decided to desert his post and hightail it back to college.

Petrino was a big time bust as an NFL coach.