According to ESPN and multiple reports, West Virginia University is closing in on a deal to bring back Rich Rodriguez as head coach. The current Jacksonville State coach is expected to succeed Neal Brown, who was dismissed following the end of the season.
Rodriguez previously led the Mountaineers from 2001 to 2007, amassing a 60-26 record during his tenure, reported REUTERS. His final three seasons in Morgantown were especially dominant, with West Virginia securing 32 wins. That era was defined by Rodriguez’s revolutionary spread-option offense, which influenced programs across college football.
West Virginia nearly reached the BCS National Championship in 2007. The team averaged nearly 40 points per game and was ranked No. 2 heading into the final week of the season. However, the Mountaineers suffered a shocking 13-9 loss to rival Pitt, derailing their title hopes and dropping them to No. 11. The defeat remains one of the most memorable upsets in modern college football history.
Rodriguez’s success at WVU earned him a high-profile opportunity at Michigan, where he succeeded Lloyd Carr. Unfortunately, his time with the Wolverines was far less fruitful. Michigan posted a 15-22 record over three seasons, including a dismal 3-9 finish in 2008—the program’s first missed bowl appearance since 1974. Rodriguez was fired after a 7-6 campaign in 2010, a tenure marked by unmet expectations and the end of the team’s longstanding bowl streak.
Following a year away from coaching, Rodriguez revitalized his career at Arizona, taking over in 2012. The Wildcats enjoyed a strong start under his leadership, winning 26 games over his first three seasons, including a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 2014. However, Arizona struggled in subsequent years, never surpassing seven wins per season. Rodriguez was dismissed in 2017 amid an investigation stemming from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by his former assistant—a case that was ultimately dismissed in 2019.
Rodriguez has since rebuilt his reputation, becoming Jacksonville State’s head coach in 2022. Under his leadership, the Gamecocks have achieved back-to-back 9-4 seasons and recently clinched the Conference USA championship with a victory over Western Kentucky.
West Virginia, meanwhile, has struggled to replicate its success from the Rodriguez era. Following his departure, the program saw inconsistent results under Bill Stewart, Dana Holgorsen, and Neal Brown. Since Holgorsen’s 10-3 debut season in 2011, the Mountaineers have managed only one 10-win season (2016). Brown’s tenure ended with a 37-35 record over six seasons.
Rodriguez’s anticipated return signals West Virginia’s commitment to recapturing its glory days. With his proven offensive expertise and revitalized coaching career, fans are hopeful that Rodriguez can once again bring sustained success to Morgantown.