WVU Alumni
Ken Kendrick on WVU AD Wren Baker Picking Rich Rodriguez: ‘No One Pressured Him’
With the return of Rich Rodriguez out there even before an official announcement from WVU, one of West Virginia’s most prominent donors decided to set the record straight about what went on during the search.
An account that’s been verified as Ken Kendrick, a top West Virginia booster and owner of MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks, posted a direct response to those suggesting donors and alums pressured WVU director of athletics Wren Baker into hiring Rodriguez.
Wren Baker is his own man and conducted a thorough search to find our new Coach. NO ONE pressured him in any way during the process. The Country Roads Trust will strongly support Rich Rodriguez just as we would any other candidate that Wren would have been chosen. Go…
— WVU 1965 (@KenKendrick18) December 12, 2024
“Wren Baker is his own man and conducted a thorough search to find our new Coach. NO ONE pressured him in any way during the process. The Country Roads Trust will strongly support Rich Rodriguez just as we would any other candidate that Wren would have been chosen. Go Mountaineers!,” said Kendrick.
The constant comments supporting Rodriguez’s candidacy helped fuel speculation people like Kendrick and former Mountaineer Pat McAfee would kick in extra money for NIL money if the 63-year-old Rodriguez was brought back to Morgantown.
Hiring Rodriguez marks the first time Baker has even hired a coach with any past connection or tie to WVU or West Virginia. Baker’s two major coaching hires prior to football were Darian DeVries and Mark Kellogg for men’s and women’s basketball, respectively. DeVries and Kellogg came to WVU as outsiders to the school and region, but fit the criteria Baker usually looks for in a head coach.
And while Rodriguez is a unique candidate based on his controversial exit from WVU in 2007, Kendrick believes Baker just eventually became sold on him as the right man for the job and someone who can win.
Report: WVU Working on Deal to Bring Rich Rodriguez Back as Head Coach
Rodriguez’s return also comes on the heels of winning his first FBS conference title since his last one at WVU, as Jacksonville State dominated Western Kentucky 52-12 to claim the Conference USA crown.
Rodriguez, a West Virginia native, currently holds a 190-128-2 overall coaching record. He experienced most of his success while leading the Mountaineers from 2001-2007. At WVU, Rodriguez won four Big East titles and was named conference Coach of the Year twice. He added a third Coach of the Year honor in the Pac-12 in 2014 with Arizona.
But no matter how many games he won and trophies he lifted, Rodriguez’s first WVU tenure was tainted by the way he left – bolting for Michigan following the infamous 13-9 loss to Pitt, a defeat that cost the Mountaineers a trip the BCS National Championship Game.
After his departure from WVU, Rodriguez spent three lackluster years at Michigan and six seasons with Arizona, highlighted by winning 10 games and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 2014.
Rodriguez now has been offered something that’s never guaranteed after a breakup – a second chance. And while some fans may be hesitant to embrace him again, Rodriguez does have the support of key donors and notable alums like Pat McAfee, Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt just to name a few.
In November 2022, WVSN’s Mike Asti asked WVU legend Rasheed Marshall if he would ever want Rodriguez to return as head coach of the Mountaineers during an episode of their past “All Three Phases” podcast.
For a related story, Asti detailed why it’s important to look at the total picture of Rich Rodriguez’s career.
Sam the Sham
December 12, 2024 at 8:33 am
Kendrick is lying. It is sad we have become so dependent on a couple of rich guys more concerned about wielding power and having their cronies in charge than the good of the program.
I have loved college sports, and WVU in particular, all my life. What it has become sickens me.
jackson five
December 12, 2024 at 8:52 am
it’s down right funny,, Ken doesn’t want to be blamed if RR does not pan out,, comical… to say the least… but mcafee has put himself on the dotted line as a very pro RR for the next coach.that i like in Pat.. wvu will still never be able to compete against the money schools, maybe once in every 5 yrs or o, but when OSU can fork out 20 million for one yr to keep his team together,, only the big oil people in texas will be able to compete like that,,, just look at Texas, and SMU,, big oil behind both schools,, Kenrick can compete with this kind of money, hes just one donor,, those schools have many billionaire donors backing them,, we need salary caps just like the NFL,, and of course about 15 big time universities won’t sign on for that , they will the big edge, called money,but yet ,, even with a salary cap, unless they ban NIL money, it was never be an even playing field.
Little Elvis
December 12, 2024 at 12:34 pm
The nagging rumor of pregnant cheerleaders connected to Rich Rod, lost his job in Arizona to verified sexual harassment charges. Obviously character has meant zero in the search for a new coach if this is our guy. Good luck WVU, you’re going into to it with eyes wide open.
Curt Lindner
December 12, 2024 at 12:59 pm
Cast a wide net? MORE LIKE A DIP NET FROM MOTOWN TO GRANT TOWN! WVU KNEW ALL ALONG IT WAS RR. They make things look good by saying they interviewed an up and coming NATIONALLY RESPECTED RECRUITER 3 HOURS BEFORE ANNOUNCING! And how about Dan Mullen? Not a mention of his name at all only to find out THE DAY AFTER RR IS ANNOUNCED HE TAKES THE HC JOB AT UNLV!They are financially strapped so this was simply a money savings hire. TOTAL BULLSHIT!
John
December 12, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Speed!!!
Melanie Mills
December 12, 2024 at 4:15 pm
Right now for WVU it comes down to money… Rodriguez wants to be here and is willing to do it for a cheaper contract…That’s the reality of the situation…I don’t appreciate how he handled his departure before..I have my doubts about his abilities in the Big 12, but he wants to be here…
WVU4Life
December 12, 2024 at 5:43 pm
I think that this was a good hire. Give him a chance. I never could blame him for leaving for Michigan. Big money and big big step up. He has always been a winner and I wish him all the best. I also just wanted to say thanks to Neal Brown. He has been class act all the way.
Kenneth Whittington
December 12, 2024 at 8:59 pm
Me myself am tired of losing. We know Rich Rod can recruit and win here.The boys loved playing his style of offense. Bringing the excitement of WVU football back doesn’t bother me a bit !!!
Dave Sawyer
December 13, 2024 at 1:29 am
To those who didn’t want RR to return, please tell us someone better!! The same people who wanted NB out expect us to get a top tier coach. Ain’t going to happen here. Get realistic and be thankful we have someone to bring back some excitement to touchdown city.