TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona head football coach Rich Rodriguez has been named a semifinalist for the 2017 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award, it was announced Thursday by the Maxwell Football Club. Rodriguez is one of 16 candidates for the award selected by the MFC National Selection Committee.

In his sixth season, Rodriguez has guided the Wildcats to a 7-3 overall record, including a mark of 5-2 in the Pac-12 Conference. It's the second time in the last four seasons UA will finish with winning conference record, something the Wildcats have done only two other times since 1999.

Arizona is bowl-bound for the fifth time in Rodriguez's six seasons with two games to play. The Wildcats were 4-0 in October, going undefeated in the month for first time since 1992 and only the second time in program history. An upset of No. 15 Washington State on Oct. 28 closed out the perfect month, securing the Wildcats' first victory over a ranked team since 2015.

The 2017 campaign is positioned to be the best offensive season in school history. Through 10 games, Arizona leads the Pac-12 in scoring average (44.4), rushing average (347.7) and total offense (516.5). The Wildcats currently hold a six-game streak scoring 35 or more points against Pac-12 foes, the longest streak for any FBS team this year against Power 5 opponents.

Quarterback Khalil Tate has emerged as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, and is a semifinalist for numerous other national honors, including the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien Award. In October, Tate became the first player in the Pac-12 Conference history to earn Player of the Week honors in four consecutive weeks. Additionally, Tate is the first quarterback in league history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Semifinalist voting for the Maxwell Football Club Collegiate Coach of the Year award will begin on Friday, Nov. 17 and close on Monday, Dec. 11. The finalist round will include the top three coaches as selected in the semifinalist round. Finalist voting will open Dec. 12 and run until Dec. 26. The winner will be announced Dec. 27.

Arizona (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) travels to Eugene, Ore., to face Oregon (5-5, 2-5 Pac-12). Kickoff against the Ducks is set for 4 p.m. (PST) on the Pac-12 Network.

Season ticket prices and sales for the 2018 season will be available in January. In the meantime, deposits are now being accepted. Fans can place a $75 per seat deposit on new or current season tickets. The $75 deposit will be applied to the overall cost of season tickets. Visit ArizonaWildcats.com/FB for more information or to place a deposit.

2017 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award Semifinalists
Matt Campbell (Iowa State University)
Paul Chryst (University of Wisconsin)
Bill Clark (University of Alabama Birmingham)
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State University)
Scott Frost (University of Central Florida)
Lane Kiffin (Florida Atlantic University)
Gus Malzahn (Auburn University)
Jeff Monken (United States Military Academy)
Dan Mullen (Mississippi State University)
Mark Richt (University of Miami)
Lincoln Riley (University of Oklahoma)
Rich Rodriguez (University of Arizona)
Nick Saban (University of Alabama)
Kirby Smart (University of Georgia)
Dabo Swinney (Clemson University)
Jeff Tedford (Fresno State University)