Richrod leaves Jacksonville State to go back to West Virginia

December 13, 2024 – MORGANTOWN, WV – Jacksonville State head football Coach Rich Rodriguez was been named the 36th head football coach at West Virginia University.

"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Rich Rodriguez and his family back home," Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "Coach Rodriguez understands what it takes to win at West Virginia, and I believe he will pour his heart, soul and every ounce of his energy into our program. I am convinced Coach Rodriguez wants what is best for West Virginia, WVU and West Virginia football, and I am excited about the future of our program."

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University," Rodriguez said. "My family and I are filled with gratitude to lead the Mountaineer football program again and look forward to working with the many supporters, fans, and friends to build the best football program in America! Take Me Home!"

Rodriguez has a 190-129-2 overall record as a head coach at six different schools.

Rodriguez has made history in Alabama before his time at Jacksonville. In 2006 the University of Alabama went 6 and 6. Then athletic director the late Mal Moore met with Rodriguez about the coaching job. In his initial interview Rodriguez accepted the job; but the next day he declined after his wife strongly objected to the family moving to Alabama. Moore was left flustered with his first choice for the opening so publicly refusing the job offer. Moore was forced to go to his backup plan – wait for the NFL season to end and throw a bucket of money at then Miami Dolphins head Coack Nick Saban. That plan worked out well for both Alabama and Saban who stayed at UA for 17 seasons, winning 6 national championships along the way – a feat that likely never will be duplicated.

Coach Rodriguez meanwhile spent one more year at West Virginia before moving on to Michigan – a fit that never seemed quite right. He then bounced from coaching job to coaching job before winding up in Alabama afterall – though at Jacksonville not UA. Now he has returned "home."

"West Virginians always find their way home again," said WVU President Gordon Gee. "I have spoken to Coach Rodriguez, and it is clear that his time away has provided reflection and renewed appreciation for West Virginia and West Virginia University. We look forward to having Rich, his family, and his winning record back in Morgantown. I extend my thanks to Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker for his leadership in running an efficient and thorough search."

Rodgriguez has coached his various programs to 14 bowl games, including three BCS games (2006 Sugar, 2008 Fiesta, 2014 Fiesta) and two NAIA Division I playoff appearances (the championship game in 1993 and the quarterfinals in 1994).

He has coached offenses that have produced 10 conference players of the year, has coached 56 NFL players and more than 30 All-Americans during his career. He won Conference USA with Jacksonville this year and leaves JSU in a bowl game.

He guided the Gamecocks from NCAA FCS level to the FBS ranks over the past three seasons. The 2024 Conference USA Coach of the Year compiled a 27-10 record (three-straight nine-win seasons), earned the 2024 C-USA regular season and conference championships, won the 2023 New Orleans Bowl and had a first-place finish in the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2022.

Rodriguez was 60-26 in seven seasons at West Virginia, where he won the Big East Conference championship four times (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007) and was named the Big East's Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005. The Mountaineers won the 2006 Sugar Bowl and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

Before accepting the position at West Virginia, Rodriguez was Tommy Bowden's offensive coordinator and associate head coach at Clemson in 1999 and 2000.

In a statement posted on X, the social media platform, Rodriguez thanked a litany Jax State staffers and reflected on the last three years.

"It has truly been an honor and a privilege to be the head football coach at Jax state. I am forever grateful for athletic director Greg Seitz, president Don Killingsworth, and the board of trustees for the opportunity," said Rodriguez on X. "I sincerely appreciate the entire Jax state community, fans, donors, 900 club members, football alumni and many friends of the program for their support the last 3 years. Lastly, I want to give special thanks and overwhelming gratitude to the players and staff for their tremendous commitment to hard work and earned success! It has been the honor of a lifetime to coach you the last three years. From transitioning into the FBS, to a bowl victory to winning the Conference USA championship, your legacy at Jax state will always be remembered."

Jacksonville now has to search to find its next head coach.

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