Former Washington Huskies head coach who led UW to a memorable Rose Bowl victory, is set to make his return to coaching on the professional sidelines.
At 64, Rick Neuheisel has been named the new head coach of the United Football League’s Dallas Renegades. The announcement has been made with Neuheisel stepping into the role previously held by Bob Stoops. The former Oklahoma coaching legend recently retired after guiding the Renegades for three seasons.
The UFL stands as the top spring professional football league in the United States, having been formed in 2024 through the merger of the XFL and the USFL. Neuheisel’s return to spring football carries personal significance, as his playing career included time in the original USFL during the 1980s.
In the team’s official release, Neuheisel expressed excitement about joining the league and returning to the coaching ranks. He noted his long standing belief in spring football and reflected on his early experience as a quarterback with the San Antonio Gunslingers. Neuheisel also acknowledged the challenge of following a coach of Stoops’ stature, while emphasizing his enthusiasm about becoming part of the vibrant sports culture in Dallas and getting back to work.
Neuheisel is best remembered in the Pacific Northwest for his successful run at Washington from 1999 through 2002. During that span, he compiled a 33 and 16 record and delivered one of the most celebrated seasons in program history. The 2000 Huskies finished 11 and 1, captured the Pac 10 championship, and capped the year with a convincing Rose Bowl win over Purdue. That team ended the season ranked third in the Associated Press poll.
Beyond his time at UW, Neuheisel also served as head coach at Colorado from 1995 to 1998 and later at UCLA from 2008 to 2011. Across 12 seasons as a college head coach, he posted an overall record of 87 and 58. His professional experience includes three years on the Baltimore Ravens’ staff from 2005 to 2007, highlighted by a season as the team’s offensive coordinator.
This marks Neuheisel’s first coaching position since 2019, when he led the Arizona Hotshots in the Alliance of American Football. He will also continue his role as a college football analyst with CBS Sports, a position he has held since 2015.