West Virginia’s head coach Rich Rodriguez has spent considerable time in coaching but has always aimed to view each phase of his career as a valuable learning opportunity.
Rodriguez, currently in his second tenure leading the Mountaineers football program, thinks that each of his roles, spanning his 27 years as a head coach and over 30 years in the field, has contributed to his current identity.
“It has been the experiences we’ve gained in various leagues, coaching across multiple leagues.” “Coaching across various areas of the nation,” Rodriguez stated during the College GameDay Podcast.
However, Rodriguez has also developed as a head coach. Following a successful period in Morgantown from 2001-07, where he achieved a 60-26 record and made two appearances in BCS bowls, he has served as a head coach at Michigan, Arizona, and Jacksonville State, in addition to holding assistant positions at Mississippi and Louisiana-Monroe.
And throughout that period, he has developed as a head coach.
“We’re engaging in many activities we performed 20 years ago, but there are numerous things we believe are improved,” he stated. “You constantly seek to develop.”
Rodriguez never envisioned the chance to return to West Virginia given how his initial leave transpired, but he appreciates the opportunity to conclude his career in the place where he was raised, played college football, and held his first significant head coaching position.
The head coach acknowledged in the podcast that he should have discussed his departure to accept the Michigan position in a press conference format initially, but it’s merely another lesson he has gained throughout his career.
“I gained a great deal from that experience, learning extensively not just on a personal level but also about the significance of this program to many individuals in the state of West Virginia,” he stated.
Rodriguez enjoyed a successful three seasons at Jacksonville State, guiding the Gamecocks to a 27-10 record while moving the program from the FCS to the FBS level. This encompassed the 2024 Conference USA Championship, yet the appeal of returning home was just too great to ignore.
“It’s our place and the individuals we cherish.” “I am truly thankful for the chance to return,” he stated.
Rodriguez is entering a much different scenario this time due to the emergence of the transfer portal and what resembles college free agency, but to succeed, adaptation is essential. The head coach anticipates that approximately 75 players will be newcomers on his roster.
“The target has shifted significantly, and you must adjust to it,” he remarked.
