By: Clark Johnson | WV Sports Chat
Morgantown, WV – Following the Neal Brown era, fan enthusiasm and morale around the WVU Football program had reached an all-time low. With 0 appearances in the AP and College Football Playoff Top 25 since 2018, many were even starting to question if this was the new normal for the Mountaineers. That was until December 12, 2024.
On that cold early-winter evening, news broke that WVU was hiring Rich Rodriguez as the football program’s 36th head coach. Despite mixed reactions initially, fans quickly jumped on the bandwagon in hopes of a return to the Mountaineers’ golden days.
Rodriguez promised to hit the ground running, even hinting at national title aspirations. While the 2025 season didn’t do much to move the needle in that direction, additions in recruiting have ignited fan hope once again. Now, with a full offseason ahead of him, the Grant Town native has the foundation to build the program in accordance with his vision.
Given Rodriguez’s track record, he possesses an attribute fans must trust – he is a program builder. Throughout previous stints at WVU, Michigan, and Arizona, programs under his leadership have displayed steady growth from year-to-year.
In 2001, Rodriguez’s first season ended with a 3-8 mark. Not a result Mountaineer fans were accustomed to. However, things quickly turned around as WVU improved to 9-4 in 2002. Over the next two seasons, the WVU Football program remained stable before taking off in 2005. For three-straight years, the Mountaineers finished with 10+ wins, even almost making the BCS National Championship Game in 2007.
Despite operating a program on the cusp of a historic breakthrough, Rodriguez decided to take his talents to Michigan in December of 2007. The Wolverines and Rodriguez stumbled out of the gates with a 3-9 record in 2008. While the following seasons did not match his levels of success at WVU, Michigan improved in both 2009 and 2010 – finishing 5-7 and 7-6, respectively. The University of Michigan ultimately decided to cut ties, but it was Rodriguez’s roster that led the program to an 11-2 mark in 2011 under Brady Hoke. Some argue that another year with Rodriguez would’ve yielded similar results.
Fast forward to 2012, and Rodriguez was now leading the University of Arizona Football program. The Wildcats had just endured nearly a decade of mediocrity. Seeking stability, Arizona landed on Rodriguez as their next head coach. Over the next six seasons, the Wildcats experienced a resurgence with a 43-35 record, 3 bowl wins, and an appearance in the 2014 Pac-12 title game.
Rodriguez would depart Arizona in January of 2016, but left behind a legacy of giving life to a dormant program. He would return to coaching in 2022 at Jacksonville State. Leading the Gamecocks to 27-wins and a successful transition to the FBS, Country Roads finally took him home back to Morgantown.
What Rodriguez’s resume proves is that his programs are a process. Spending the earlier years resetting the culture, his teams inevitably take-off once the right guys are in the right spots. It is still yet to be determined if that will be the case for WVU in 2026, but it is apparent things are moving in that direction.
Following a messy departure in 2007, Rodriguez’s return to WVU Football feels personal. He wants to get things right to amend past transgressions. Couple that with his program building tendencies and Hard Edge culture, it is a matter of when, not if, the Mountaineers will be nationally relevant again.
Rich Rodriguez WILL get things turned around in Morgantown. It will take patience through growing pains, but the Mountaineers will be on top of the mountain, yet again.
For more on Coach Rodriguez’s tenure at Arizona, check out this past episode of Couz’s Corner.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
