Dec 13, 2024
FILE – West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez yells onto the field during the second half of a college football game against East Carolina in this Sept. 22, 2007 file photo, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File)
In fortifying the future of its football program, West Virginia University reached back into the past, hiring the former coach who led the Mountaineers to some of their greatest triumphs.
The university officially announced Thursday that Rich Rodriguez – who coached WVU to national prominence from 2001-07 – would return to lead the program again. He replaces Neal Brown, who was fired following the Mountaineers’ regular-season-ending loss at Texas Tech.
Rodriguez, who spent the last three seasons at Jacksonville State, is coming off a Conference USA championship win over Western Kentucky in just the program’s second year in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University,” Rodriguez said. “My family and I are filled with gratitude to lead the Mountaineer football program again and look forward to working with the many supporters, fans, and friends to build the best football program in America! Take Me Home!”
Rodriguez’s introductory press conference will take place at 1:30 p.m. today at the WVU Coliseum, with the public invited to attend. The event will feature the Pat McAfee Show, which will broadcast on-site live from the Coliseum from noon until 2 p.m. on ESPN and from 2-3 p.m. on YouTube/ESPN+.
McAfee – the former WVU All-American and NFL All-Pro punter who has grown into one of sports media’s most influential voices – has been a vocal Rodriguez backer and was happy to see his former coach back in Morgantown.
“I’m really pumped for Coach Rod to finish his story,” McAfee said on the “In The Gun” podcast.
McAfee added that both he and Rodriguez think about the 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh in 2007 to this day, which knocked them out of a spot in the national championship game.
“I think he wants to make it right,” McAfee said on the podcast. “And … I think (Rodriguez’s return) is one of the coolest things to ever happen. And I’m very thankful and pumped that (WVU athletic director Wren Baker) made this decision.”
Baker told reporters last week he would conduct an extensive search for WVU’s new coach. He also said that one of the most important qualities to that coach would be a full understanding of what his job is and what it entails. Baker said in the announcement that he feels he found that person in Rodriguez.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Rich Rodriguez and his family back home,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “Coach Rodriguez understands what it takes to win at West Virginia, and I believe he will pour his heart, soul and every ounce of his energy into our program. I am convinced Coach Rodriguez wants what is best for West Virginia, WVU and West Virginia football, and I am excited about the future of our program.”
During his first WVU stint, he went 60-26 and finished in the Associated Press top 11 three times. His teams won the 2006 Sugar Bowl, 2007 Gator Bowl and 2008 Fiesta Bowl, though Bill Stewart served as interim head coach for the Fiesta Bowl.
Returning to WVU is the latest step in Rodriguez’s college football odyssey, one filled with twists, turns, triumphs and controversy.
There was the messy breakup from WVU when he took the head coaching job at Michigan in late 2007. He lasted just three seasons in Ann Arbor, unable to replicate his success there. In 2012, he was hired to be Arizona’s head coach and got the Wildcats to the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. He was fired there in 2018 following an investigation stemming from a lawsuit filed by a former administrative assistant accusing Rodriguez of sexual harassment and creating a hostile working environment. He admitted to an extramarital affair, but denied the suit’s accusations. That lawsuit was later dismissed.
Rodriguez bounced around in off-field analyst and assistant coaching roles until being hired at Jacksonville State in 2022.
WVU President Gordon Gee said that journey has helped Rodriguez find his path back to West Virginia.
“West Virginians always find their way home again,” Gee said. “I have spoken to Coach Rodriguez, and it is clear that his time away has provided reflection and renewed appreciation for West Virginia and West Virginia University. We look forward to having Rich, his family, and his winning record back in Morgantown. I extend my thanks to Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker for his leadership in running an efficient and thorough search.”
Rodriguez is 190-129-2 in his coaching career. His teams have appeared in 14 bowl games, including three New Year’s Six bowl games. He is 6-6 in bowl games in which he has coached. He has won a conference or division championship seven times and been named conference or national coach of the year seven times.
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