MORGANTOWN Amid a controversial return to the Mountain State, WVU’s 36th head football coach says he’s ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
Rich Rodriguez, a native of Grant Town, has made a surprising return to West Virginia University as the head football coach. This marks his second stint with the Mountaineers, 17 years after he left for the University of Michigan.
WVU officially announced Rodriguez as the 36th head coach of the football program on December 12. The 61-year-old coach expressed his excitement about coming back to his alma mater during his introduction at the WVU Coliseum.
In a Friday interview on MetroNews' "Talkline," Rodriguez addressed the challenges he faces, particularly regarding player retention. He mentioned that several key players, including CJ Donaldson, Tomas Rimac, and Trey Lathan, have all entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. He added that if players choose to leave for better financial offers elsewhere, he's prepared to find replacements.
“We’re going to be in a great position to help them, not just career-wise, football-wise, academically, but also financially,” said Rodriguez. “But, if they’re going to go chase the money and some school’s going to pay them big, big money – more than we would pay – and they decide to do that, then that’s fine. Then I’ll go get another one.”
The coach also discussed his plans for building his staff, saying he hopes to announce many staff members before Christmas. He mentioned the possibility of bringing in players from his previous team, Jacksonville State, after their bowl game.
Rodriguez acknowledged the mixed reactions to his return, given the controversial nature of his departure in 2007. During his introduction, he admitted he’s happy to be home, saying that he “should have never left.” On Friday, he said that he's changed over the years and is ready to reprove himself to the WVU community.
“I know I gotta win games, and there’s still a lot of folks that are upset and so I’ve gotta earn their support back, but we’re willing to do that, and we’re going to do everything we can to have West Virginia football be relevant in the national scope again,” Coach Rodriguez said.
The coach's return has generated significant buzz, with thousands of fans attending his introduction at the WVU Coliseum. The event was described as part press conference, part reunion, and part party.
As Rodriguez begins his second chapter at WVU, he faces the challenge of rebuilding the team and regaining the trust of some fans. However, he seems confident in his ability to lead the Mountaineers back to national prominence.
All the while, the search for a new president at WVU is progressing as planned, with interviews set to begin soon.
Patrice Harris, the chair of the search committee, shared that the firm WittKiefer is currently reviewing candidate submissions while actively recruiting nationwide for suitable applicants.
The process has now entered a "quiet phase," meaning that while recruitment continues, specific details about candidates will remain confidential to protect their current positions.
In the meantime, finalists will be narrowed down to three to five candidates, who will then be interviewed in person by the Board of Governors. The new president is expected to be announced in the spring of 2025, following a thorough evaluation of all applicants. Current president Gordon Gee will continue in his role until June 2025.