He’s officially back — West Virginia athletic director Len Baker (left) introduces new West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez during a press conference Friday in Morgantown. – Benjamin Powell
MORGANTOWN – Rich Rodriguez believes he can be a better coach for West Virginia University now than he was during his first tenure, but that’s a pretty high bar to clear.
Still, he feels he’s in a position to make his beliefs a reality thanks to his 17-year college football journey following his tumultuous departure from Morgantown.
Thousands of WVU fans filled half of the WVU Coliseum on Friday afternoon to welcome Rodriguez back as Mountaineer football coach. It’s been nearly 20 years since Rodriguez produced the best season in program history in his first go-round.
The event was like a press conference, reunion, and party. Pat McAfee – former WVU All-America punter turned nationally known sports personality – broadcast the show live from the Coliseum floor and provided part of the broadcast to introduce Rodriguez. Former Alabama coach and West Virginia native Nick Saban also appeared on McAfee’s show and offered his best wishes.
Rodriguez entered the area through a fire-breathing pillar and past the WVU pep band playing the university’s fight song. During his speeches to thousands of cheering fans, he had to step away from the microphone several times to contain his emotions.
It wasn’t just an opportunity to return to power conference college football, he said. What really mattered to the Granttown native was that he did it at his alma mater, where he enjoyed many great times.
“I know this city, I know what it’s like to be a student there, I know what it’s like to be an athlete there, I know what it’s like to play sports. There’s only one school in this country where I can coach. Please live there.” he said. “That’s West Virginia University.”
Details of Rodriguez’s new contract have not yet been announced, but he said he has signed a five-year contract to coach at WVU. WVU athletic director Len Baker said he vetted dozens of candidates and interviewed more than 15 to find someone to replace Neil Brown. He said the job was a popular one because of the program’s history and tradition, resources and passionate fan base.
Baker said the next head football coach needs to have many qualities. He needed to embrace West Virginia’s values of work ethic, grit and passion, while also committing to developing champions on the field and leaders off the field.
“Finally, we were looking for someone who would be well-established in West Virginia.” he said. “This is a great place to live and work. It’s an honor to represent Mountaineer Nation and I felt it was important for our next head coach to understand that.”
Rodriguez said work ethic, grit and passion will be the hallmarks of his football program, just as they were when he first served as head coach at WVU from 2001 to 2007. During that time, the Mountaineers went 60-26, reached six bowl games, and made two New Year’s Six bowls, winning both. He said every player who wore a WVU uniform under his coach had a passion for their teammates, a passion for football and a passion for West Virginia University.
“Our players play as hard as anyone in the country.” he said. “What I always tell our players is there are a lot of people in the stands who don’t know all the X’s and O’s. They don’t know all the plans we have. Maybe not. But especially in West Virginia, they can sit in the stands and tell if you’re playing hard.
“I don’t make too many promises.” He added: “But I promise you one thing, if you watch these West Virginia players play…they’re going to play hard.”
Hiring a defensive coordinator will be Rodriguez’s first task. He said he has spoken with several candidates but cannot say what defense WVU will mount until a decision is made. He said West Virginia’s offense will be very familiar, playing the type of high-tempo, explosive game made famous by players like Rasheed Marshall, Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine. He said they were similar.
Rodriguez also acknowledged that not all WVU fans were happy with his return. Some still harbored bitter feelings about how he left WVU to take the head coaching job at the University of Michigan three years before he was fired. Rodriguez admitted that leaving WVU, and leaving WVU this way, was a mistake.
“I make a promise to everyone here, not just those who are upset, and everyone who is supporting us. I want to have your support. I want to regain support and trust, and I am fully committed to that.”
He plans to learn from his mistakes and make it happen, he said. These are not mistakes made 17 years ago, but mistakes made 7 years ago or even 7 days ago. All of that, he said, will help him become the best version of himself he is today.
Rodriguez understands the privilege he now enjoys by returning to West Virginia University. He said he would do everything in his power to earn that privilege.
“I thought about this moment.” Rodriguez said. “I get to coach at the greatest university in this country. I get to live in the greatest state in the Union. And more importantly, I get to be close to you. Being able to interact with some of the greatest people possible.”
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