Former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is finalizing a deal to return to the nation roads the place he skilled his biggest success as a head coach, sources instructed ESPN on Wednesday.
Rodriguez, the present head coach at Jacksonville State, has emerged because the goal to be the Mountaineers’ new coach, per sources, and a deal is anticipated to return collectively within the close to future.
Rodriguez, 61, spent seven seasons on the faculty (2001 to ’07), which included three straight 10-win campaigns and a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia in 2006. He had West Virginia on the cusp of the Bowl Championship Series title sport in his ultimate yr earlier than an upset loss to Pittsburgh. After that loss, Rodriguez left for Michigan in a tense cut up, together with a authorized battle over his buyout.
Rodriguez is a West Virginia native, which made the bitterness of his departure sting even worse however makes his return house highly effective.
As West Virginia’s seek for a substitute for the fired Neal Brown unfolded, Rodriguez emerged as the favourite. He led Jacksonville State to back-to-back 9-4 seasons and led that college to the Conference USA title this season with a powerful 52-12 win over Western Kentucky within the title sport.
He would take over a faculty in a vastly totally different place than when he left practically 20 years in the past, as Rodriguez dominated the Big East throughout his tenure at WVU. Since becoming a member of the Big 12 in 2012, West Virginia has had only one 10-win season. The faculty hasn’t been nationally ranked since 2016.
The return of Rodriguez is anticipated to carry an uptick in assist, as West Virginia operated with one of many decrease NIL budgets within the Big 12 throughout Brown’s tenure. While Rodriguez’s departure left some divisiveness, it can impress a major phase of followers and donors.
The homecoming additionally will give West Virginia an adrenaline jolt of relevancy, as Rodriguez’s return will likely be one of many buzziest and most nostalgic tales in school soccer in 2025. His first marquee sport will likely be in opposition to former nemesis Pitt on Sept. 13 in Morgantown.
Rodriguez struggled to seek out the identical degree of success after West Virginia. His three years at Michigan resulted in infamy, as he was 15-22. He then was employed by Arizona however had blended leads to his six years, going 43-35. He led them to the Fiesta Bowl in 2014 and Arizona performed within the Pac-12 title sport that yr and upset No. 2 Oregon in Eugene throughout the common season.
