THE VIRGINIA STAND: Rich Rodriguez Declares West Virginia Return as Final Coaching Destination — “This Is My Home, And My Last Stop in the Coaching World”
In a powerful and emotional statement that has energized Mountaineer Nation, veteran football coach Rich Rodriguez officially declared his return to West Virginia University as the final chapter in his storied coaching career. During his introductory press conference, Rodriguez made it clear: “This is my home, and my last stop in the coaching world.”
Rodriguez, a native of Grant Town, West Virginia, and a former WVU player and head coach, returns to Morgantown with the intention of restoring the program to national prominence while bringing his career full circle. His previous tenure at West Virginia from 2001 to 2007 is fondly remembered by fans for its high-powered offenses and electrifying players like Pat White and Steve Slaton. Under his leadership, the Mountaineers won multiple Big East titles and came within a win of playing for a national championship in 2007.
“This place shaped who I am — not just as a coach, but as a man,” Rodriguez said. “To be back, to walk these hallways again, and to lead this program with everything I’ve learned over the years — it means the world to me.”
Since leaving WVU, Rodriguez has coached at Michigan, Arizona, Ole Miss, and most recently Jacksonville State, where he led the program into its FBS transition. His return to West Virginia represents not only a reunion but also a redemption story, and one that feels deeply personal to both the coach and the state.
Fans and alumni have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, filling social media with messages of support and anticipation. University officials emphasized the value Rodriguez brings with his deep roots in the region, experience at the highest levels of college football, and his commitment to building young men both on and off the field.
Rodriguez ended the press conference with a promise: “We’re going to play fast, we’re going to play physical, and we’re going to do it with pride in that Flying WV. I’m not just back — I’m home for good.”
As the Mountaineers prepare for a new era, Rich Rodriguez’s homecoming signals a return to identity, tradition, and unfinished business.
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