MORGANTOWN – No need for a long introduction, let’s get straight to the point.
When Indiana hired Darian DeVries on March 18, was Ross Hodge WVU athletic director Wren Baker’s top choice to replace him?
No, he wasn’t. But Hodge was on Baker’s list from the beginning, even if he wasn’t a name widely discussed by the media or fans.
How Did We Get Here?
Hodge’s rise in the coaching search was largely due to a process of elimination.
Niko Medved, a serious candidate when WVU hired DeVries in 2024, ended up at Minnesota. His Morgantown roots made him a natural option, but there are conflicting accounts some say WVU never approached him due to his Minnesota ties, while others claim he simply wasn’t interested.
Ben McCollum, initially the frontrunner, took over for DeVries at Drake and led the team to a 31-win season and an NCAA tournament run. However, with Iowa firing Fran McCaffrey around the same time, McCollum opted to return home and take that job instead.
Utah State’s Jerrod Calhoun was highly interested in the WVU position, went through interviews, and was seriously considered. However, Baker prioritized a defensive-minded coach, and analytics showed Calhoun’s strengths leaned more toward offense.
Why Hodge?
Hodge’s North Texas team was one of the nation’s toughest defensive squads. Only two opponents managed to score 70+ points against them all season, and no team hit 80. In contrast, Utah State allowed nine teams to score 80+, though they also put up big numbers offensively.
That defensive identity kept Hodge on Baker’s radar and ultimately pushed him to the top of the list.
The Hesitation Around Hodge
WVU fans’ lukewarm response to Hodge stems from his relatively short Division I head coaching experience. While WVU’s press release boasts about his 80% career winning percentage, most of that success came at the junior college level. His Division I record over two seasons sits at 67%.
WVU has a storied basketball history Jerry West, Joe Mazzulla, Bob Huggins, 31 NCAA tournaments, 11 Sweet 16s, a Final Four in 2010. The program just pulled off a road win at Kansas this season. Yet, it’s now handing the reins to a coach with only two years of Division I experience, both ending in NIT runs.
The Verdict
Does this mean Hodge can’t succeed? Not at all. He could turn out to be a brilliant hire, it’s just too soon to know. The uncertainty is what makes fans uneasy.
Baker, however, has a strong track record with coaching hires. Mark Kellogg wasn’t a well-known name in 2023, but he’s been excellent leading WVU women’s basketball. DeVries wasn’t a household name last year, yet now he’s at a blue-blood program in Indiana. Steve Sabins has impressed in his first year coaching WVU baseball.
Ultimately, Baker had to navigate multiple obstacles before landing on Hodge. But his ability to see the bigger picture might make all the difference.
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