By: Clark Johnson | WV Sports Chat
Morgantown, WV – The 2025-26 season for the WVU Men’s Basketball program has been a roller coaster. With the Mountaineers finishing the regular season 18-13 overall (9-9 Big 12), it’s safe to assume they have a “snowball’s chance in hell” at making the NCAA Tournament. Now that significant postseason hopes have been all but dashed, fans will have a long offseason ahead of them to dwell on the “what could have beens.”
As for now, I’m going to take the opportunity to be a calming presence amidst a fanbase filled with chaos. Over the last few days, debates have sparked online with fan questioning the hire of Ross Hodge last April. A select few fans, albeit unreasonable ones, are even calling for his job once the season wraps up.
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I’m going to keep it as blunt as I possibly can.
No, Ross Hodge was not a bad hire.
And no, Ross Hodge will not be fired following the conclusion of the season.
Instead, fans should turn their attention to the state of the program prior to Hodge’s arrival. Coming off of a third straight season of major roster and staff turnover, the WVU Men’s Basketball program was in a never-ending cycle of limbo. No momentum nor continuity had been established, hindering the program’s potential for growth.
Now, with Hodge at the helm, the Mountaineers finally have a captain that is willing to stay and right the ship. It will take time, but with consecutive seasons of retention and recruiting, the Texas native will finally get continuity back into the Mountaineer program.
It has been a rough few seasons for WVU Men’s Basketball, but stability doesn’t come without some growing pains.
The program is in good hands with Ross Hodge.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
