Could Rich Rodriguez eventually end up back at WVU?

Jul 29, 2023

08 November 2007: Rich Rodriguez..The West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the Louisville Cardinals 38-31 on November 08, 2007 at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, West Virginia. Rodriguez gives his quarterback Pat White a hug after the game. White scored the game-winning touchdown.

MORGANTOWN, WV–Believe it or not but rumors are circulating that former WVU football coach Rich Rodriguez could possibly be rehired as head coach. Coach Neal Brown hasn’t lost one game yet in 2023 and he is on the chopping block by the Mountaineer fanbase and some sports reporters.

We know this is a sore subject, but Rich Rodriguez gave WVU fans some of their best years of football memories. He is both beloved and hated for that reason.

It was reported recently by a sports writer on the internet that Rich Rod could be rehired midway through the season if Brown has a bad start. With a very tough schedule for WVU it is possible that WVU could be 1-4 after the first five games. An unnamed sports writer made a big prediction that Rodriguez could be rehired by the end of the year. In his first season at Jacksonville State last year, Rich Rod put together a very impressive 9-2 record. His overall record as a 20 year coach is 172-121-2. At WVU Rodriguez was 60-26 and finished 11-1, 11-2, and 10-2 in his final three seasons before bolting to Michigan.

With WVU predicted to finish last in the Big 12 this season, Neal Brown is certainly on the hot seat. If the Mountaineers lose to Penn State (which has already been predicted) and fall to Pitt in the backyard brawl then it’s very possible a mid season coaching change could happen. Even though Rodriguez was despised by fans when he left there is a part of WVU’s fan base that would welcome him back to Morgantown.

By some miracle if WVU upsets Penn State and beats Pitt at home, Brown would be 3-0 with an awesome start (given that WVU beats Duquesne in the second game).

Only time will tell.