3 reasons to be excited as WVU men’s basketball hires Ross Hodge as new Head Coach..

It looks like West Virginia Athletic Director Wren Baker has found his next head coach.  

Multiple reports on Wednesday morning confirmed that North Texas head coach Ross Hodge has agreed to a five-year contract with WVU, filling the vacancy left by Darian DeVries’ departure to Indiana. The hiring ends an eight-day coaching search filled with twists and turns. While the Mountaineers are set to welcome their fourth head coach in four seasons far from an ideal situation Hodge brings plenty of reasons for optimism.

 

A Proven Winner at Multiple Levels

Hodge has built a strong track record across different levels of college basketball, from the JUCO ranks to Division I mid-majors.

This season, he led North Texas to a 27-8 record and an NIT Final Four appearance. Though the Mean Green missed the NCAA Tournament, that doesn’t necessarily reflect poorly on Hodge, given the challenges of earning an at-large bid from a mid-major conference. His overall record at North Texas stands at 46-23.

Before his time in Denton, Hodge spent five seasons coaching at the JUCO level with Paris Junior College and Midland College. He led his teams to an NJCAA National Championship appearance and an NJCAA Elite Eight run, finishing his JUCO career with an impressive 146-24 record. His ability to win at programs with limited resources bodes well for his chances of success at WVU.

 

Experience in Roster Rebuilding

Hodge’s JUCO experience is especially relevant in today’s era of NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal, where constant roster turnover has become the norm.

West Virginia is already facing another major roster rebuild, with nine of ten players who saw significant minutes last season either graduating or entering the transfer portal. Only Haris Elezovic and redshirt Ofri Naveh remain as players with experience in Morgantown—a situation similar to last offseason.

While Division I coaches often lament the difficulty of keeping rosters intact, JUCO coaches have long operated under this reality, as players frequently move on to NCAA programs after a year or two. Hodge’s background in managing rapid roster changes should serve him well in navigating WVU’s offseason overhaul and maintaining a competitive roster moving forward.

 

A Hire That Aligns with Baker’s Track Record 

Baker has developed a clear pattern when it comes to basketball hires, and Hodge fits the mold perfectly.

He previously hired Mark Kellogg, who has led the WVU women’s program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. He also brought in Darian DeVries, who rebuilt WVU’s roster from scratch and still managed a 19-win season (10 in the Big 12), earning a high-profile job at Indiana.

At North Texas, Baker hired Grant McCasland Hodge’s former boss who has since moved on to Texas Tech and guided them to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2025.

Baker’s hiring pattern favors coaches with years of assistant experience, proven success at lower levels, and a focus on strong defensive play. Hodge checks all those boxes. Under his leadership, North Texas ranked third nationally in scoring defense this season, allowing just 59.9 points per game trailing only Houston and Drake.

While Hodge may not have been an early frontrunner in WVU’s search, his resume suggests he could be a great fit for the Mountaineers. Now, it’s a matter of seeing how his tenure unfolds.

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