His wife, Meo, is from Roanoke (Bradshaw Valley out by Mason's Cove School). I dated her oldest sister, was great high school friends with her next oldest sister, and became great teaching friends with her mother.

In conversations with Meo's mother over a decade ago, I knew that it wouldn't be impossible to convince Rick to take a job coaching VT. Being close to ones parents as they age is quite important to many people. However, they both (Rick and Meo) are rooted to Mississippi. So the MSU job was his dream job.