ROSS HODGE’S THOUGHT: In memory of late Hot Rod Hundley’s WVU basketball coach, I learnt many things from him including WVU personal…

ROSS HODGE’S THOUGHT: In memory of late Hot Rod Hundley’s WVU basketball coach, I learnt many things from him including WVU personal…

 

In the fast-paced world of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in wins, losses, and stats. But every so often, we pause—not to reflect on a game, but on a person. A mentor. A legend. For me, that person was Hot Rod Hundley’s former coach at West Virginia University. While the world remembers him for the titles, the plays, and the legacy he built on the court, I remember him for the personal lessons he instilled off it.

 

As a young coach finding my way in the college basketball ranks, I had the privilege of learning from many brilliant minds. But few influenced me the way WVU’s storied coach did. Though my direct contact with him came later in his life, his presence and influence were immense. He wasn’t just a coach. He was a teacher, a motivator, and in many ways, a philosopher of the game.

 

What stood out most was how much he cared about people. I remember him telling stories about Hot Rod Hundley—not just his athleticism, but his personality, his sense of humor, his toughness. The coach saw the full person, not just the player, and that’s something I’ve carried with me every day since. He believed in nurturing character as fiercely as he developed talent.

 

From him, I learned that coaching isn’t just about drawing plays on a clipboard—it’s about knowing your players, understanding their struggles, and helping them grow beyond basketball. That kind of personal investment is something the WVU program has been known for, and it’s a tradition I strive to continue in my own journey.

 

He taught me how to be calm in chaos. Whether it was a tight game, a tough loss, or a moment of crisis in a player’s life, he always approached it with steadiness. That demeanor taught me that leadership isn’t about yelling louder—it’s about listening harder.

 

The WVU personal touch—caring deeply for every individual who walks through your program—left an imprint on me. From trainers to players to assistant coaches, he showed respect, humility, and gratitude. And he expected the same in return. He showed me that the culture you build matters more than any stat sheet.

 

As I reflect on his legacy, I think about how many lives he’s touched—how many young men, like Hot Rod Hundley, he helped shape. I think about how his influence quietly lives on in programs across the country, in coaches like me, who took notes not just on his X’s and O’s but on his heart.

 

So this is more than a tribute—it’s a thank you. Thank you for believing in people. Thank you for building the WVU way. And thank you for teaching me that the true measure of a coach isn’t what hangs in the rafters, but what lives on in the lives you’ve changed.