Rich Rodriguez named West Virginia football head coach
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — West Virginia University has chosen Rich Rodriguez to be its next football head coach.
West Virginia Football confirmed the news, first reported by ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, on Thursday. Rodriguez was the head coach at Jacksonville State.
It'll be Rodriguez's second stint as coach of the Mountaineers. He coached the team from 2001-07, tallying a 60-26 record. He won the Big East Conference title four times and was named the Big East's Coach of the Year twice.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University," Rodriguez said in a press release. "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 and his Mountaineer teams tallied two Bowl Championship Series wins. He finished his time at West Virginia with three consecutive 10-win seasons before becoming the head coach at Michigan in 2008.
The 61-year-old Rodriguez has been at Jacksonville State for the last two seasons. He has won nine games in both seasons. He spent six seasons as the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats from 2012-17 and was a coordinator at various spots before coming to Jacksonville State in 2023.
Rodriguez is set to be tasked with revitalizing a program that hasn't had a 10-win season since 2016. West Virginia has won more than six games once in the last six seasons. West Virginia fired Neal Brown earlier this month. He ended his tenure with a 37-35 record.
Rodriguez is a graduate of West Virginia and a native of Grant Town. He was a member of the football team from 1982-84.
