Ross Hodge on Redshirting in Today’s College Game…

Ross Hodge on Redshirting in Today’s College Game

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Ross Hodge, West Virginia’s new head coach, has signaled that redshirting will play an integral role in his player development strategy. While Hodge has not issued a formal policy on the practice, his recent remarks and coaching background at North Texas and now WVU offer insight into how he views redshirting within the modern, fast‑moving college basketball landscape.

At a recent introduction, Hodge underscored the depth of change he inherited: “The program has three scholarship players on the current roster. All of them sat out as redshirts last season.” His comment offers a clear window into why redshirting mattered—not just as a developmental tool for young athletes, but as a necessity amid roster churn.

Further context comes from Hodge’s comments on roster building. He sees the modern college game as one defined by constant turnover, with portal movement and NIL-driven transfers rewriting team rosters every year. “That’s kind of how it is every year now in college athletics… You’re very fortunate if you’re able to keep a couple of core players or a couple of rotation players.” In such an environment, redshirting provides a strategic buffer—a way to preserve eligibility and build long‑term depth.

Hodge’s underlying philosophy appears to align with prevailing evolutionary practices shared among college coaches on platforms like Reddit. As one coaching thread summed it up:

> “If I feel they are going to contribute meaningful snaps that might help us win games, I play them. If not, redshirt them.”

That matches what appears to be Hodge’s intentional, player‑by‑player approach. Rather than a blanket policy, his style suggests selective application of redshirts—used when a freshman or reserve likely won’t meaningfully contribute this season but has long‑term upside.

At North Texas, Hodge’s teams earned praise for their elite defense and consistency. In his first two seasons as head coach, the Mean Green compiled a 46‑23 record, including one of the nation’s top scoring defenses. That kind of disciplined system often benefits from extra seasoning for new players—making redshirting not just an administrative decision, but a developmental investment.

A deeper philosophical alignment: Hodge has repeatedly emphasized long‑term growth over short‑term gain, particularly for young players still adjusting to physical, mental, and system demands. This suggests he views redshirts not as punishment or exclusion but as a year to refine skills, understand systems, and prepare mentally.

Hodge’s coaching circle reinforces his character-driven philosophy. Praise from fellow coaches—including Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland, who called him a “brother” and underscored his relational approach—suggests Hodge likely involves players in redshirt conversations rather than unilaterally deciding.

What WVU fans can expect under Hodge this season:

A tailored redshirt strategy, applied case‑by‑case based on contribution potential and maturity.

Use of redshirts as a way to build rostering continuity and preserve eligibility, vital in a portal‑heavy Big 12 landscape.

Emphasis on development and system immersion, especially in defensive preparation.

Intentional roster building—balancing immediate impact transfers with long‑term developmental pieces.

While Hodge has yet to issue a specific redshirt policy, his values and past success strongly indicate he’ll use the tool judiciously and deliberately. With three scholarship players already redshirted last year and a rebuilding roster underway, Morgantown is watching how his approach will manifest in the 2025‑26 season.

If Hodge provides direct, public commentary about redshirting later in press interviews or recruiting announcements, this feature can be updated to include his exact words.