Turns out, this is the place for Aaron Roderick.
After a period of indecisiveness, which included accepting and then declining two job offers, Roderick has ultimately decided to stay put.
On Monday, Roderick was rehired as Utah's receivers coach. The move came nine days after he accepted a more lucrative position at the University of Washington.
"It's been stressful. I feel bad about changing my mind and changing my mind again," said Roderick. "I feel bad about that. But this is where I want to be. I wanted to come back."
Roderick reached the conclusion after spending a couple of days settling into his new job in Seattle.
"The bottom line is I spent a week away from here and I realized that I love it here. I have a great situation here and my family situation was too good to leave," he explained while noting that Utah has the whole package — the program, the players and level they are
playing at right now. "When I got away from it, I guess I gained greater appreciation for what I had."
Another factor, Roderick acknowledged, was how hard it would be for his wife, Laurel, to walk away from her career. She's an assistant soccer coach for the Utes.
All the variables added up to Roderick's final decision, one he said was based on "personal reasons."
It caps an unusual series of events for the former Bountiful High and BYU star.
On Jan. 17, Roderick accepted a promotion from Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to become a co-offensive coordinator with Dave Schramm.
Hours later, however, he changed his mind and Schramm was given the job outright.
Roderick then took a job at Washington, where former BYU teammate Steve Sarkisian is entering his first year as head coach.
"I handled this whole thing badly. But I didn't want to compound my mistakes, when where I really want to be is Utah, " Roderick said in a statement released by the U. sports information department. "This was never about titles and money. This is about doing what is
right for me and my family. I love coaching at the University of Utah and I am grateful that coach Whittingham welcomed me back."
Roderick said both coaches handled the situation well.
"Steve (Sarkisian) was great," he noted He's a class guy and he said 'I want you to be where you'll be happy.' So he was awesome."
Whittingham, Roderick added, was great, too.
The Utes rolled out the welcome mat.
"We are pleased to have Aaron Roderick returning to our program," Whittingham said in making the announcement. "He has been an integral part of our success over the past four years. Aaron's return is great news for our current players, as well as for our incoming recruits."
Roderick will hit the recruiting trail soon as the Utes wrap up their 2009 class.
"I can't wait to get back to work," he said.
The hiring leaves the Utah coaching staff with two vacancies on offense.
E-MAIL: dirk@desnews.com