JUST IN: After 17 Years Away, Rich Rodriguez Returns to West Virginia with a Mission to Finish His Coaching Story Where It Began…

 

Morgantown, WV — In a move that has sent shockwaves across the college football world, Rich Rodriguez is officially returning to West Virginia University after a 17-year absence, reigniting a bond that once made Mountaineer football a national force. The university announced Saturday that Rodriguez has been named the new head coach, replacing Neal Brown after a mixed tenure that failed to meet fan expectations.

 

Rodriguez, 61, coached the Mountaineers from 2001 to 2007, compiling a 60–26 record and leading the team to three Big East titles and a string of high-powered offenses that transformed the program into a perennial contender. His departure in December 2007 for Michigan was abrupt and controversial, leaving many fans with a sense of unfinished business.

 

Now, nearly two decades later, Rodriguez returns with a mission — not just to win, but to bring closure and fulfillment to a story that began in his home state.

 

“This place has always been in my blood,” Rodriguez said during his introductory press conference in Morgantown. “I left with regrets, and I’ve lived with that. But today isn’t about the past. It’s about finishing the job I started — building a program that reflects the pride, toughness, and heart of West Virginia.”

 

Since leaving WVU, Rodriguez experienced a turbulent career, including stints at Michigan, Arizona, and most recently Jacksonville State, where he led the Gamecocks to a conference title in their first season at the FBS level. His offensive innovations remain widely respected, and his reputation as a program builder is well-established — though not without controversy.

 

University Athletic Director Wren Baker emphasized that this hire is about more than just X’s and O’s.

 

“Coach Rodriguez understands what it means to wear the Flying WV,” Baker said. “He built something special here before, and we believe he’s the right person to lead us back to that standard. This is about reconnecting with our identity.”

 

Rodriguez inherits a program that has struggled to recapture its early-2000s magic. Fan enthusiasm has waned, and expectations for returning to national relevance have grown louder each year. Yet, the hire has already injected fresh energy into the Mountaineer fanbase, many of whom never stopped believing Rodriguez would one day come home.

 

“I never thought I’d see the day,” said longtime WVU supporter Carla Henderson. “It’s like getting a piece of our heart back.”

 

Rodriguez is expected to begin assembling his staff immediately and will meet with current players and recruits in the coming days. While challenges lie ahead, there’s a sense that something rare is happening in Morgantown — a second chance, not just for a coach, but for a community to believe again.

 

As Rodriguez put it: “This isn’t a comeback. This is a continuation — and we’re not done yet.”