National Analyst Compares WVU Job to Iowa in Midst of Darian DeVries Rumors

The Darian DeVries to Iowa rumors have caused people to compare the two jobs. This now includes a major national college basketball analyst, who couldn’t resist explaining why he believes being the WVU basketball head coach is a superior job to holding the same position at Iowa.

“I try not to get it in to who has better jobs but in this case, WVU is (if not a sleeping giant) a better job than Iowa right now in my opinion. The team is the state’s pro basketball team and fan support is awesome. They have great NIL and great facilities. And the governor has your back. The leagues are similar, of course. I’m hoping that the Mountaineers do not need another coach for a while,” posted Fran Fraschilla on Monday, a day after West Virginia was controversially left out of the NCAA Tournament.

Objectively speaking, Fraschilla is also right.

If DeVries does end up being introduced as the next head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, it will be because he simply wants to go home. He will undoubtedly even reference being home and Iowa being his dream job at his introductory press conference.

Because aside from just wanting to be home, Iowa BASKETBALL is objectively not a better job than West Virginia BASKETBALL and wouldn’t be a smart professional decision for DeVries.

Asti: Darian DeVries Would Only Leave WVU for Iowa for One Reason

Comparing WVU history to Iowa history

Historically speaking, there’s an argument the two programs are a wash, although WVU has a significant edge in recent decades.

West Virginia has 31 NCAA Tournament appearances (about to be 32), has advanced to the Sweet 16 on 11 occasions, the Elite Eight three times and made a pair of Final Fours. In addition to the NCAA Tournament history, WVU has won 13 conference tournaments and claims a national championship from the 1942 season.

As for Iowa, the Hawkeyes have made the NCAA Tournament 29 times, has eight Sweet 16s, four Elite Eights and three Final Fours, granted their last Final Four came in 1987. Iowa has only won a conference tournament three times and has no claim on a national title year.

In fact, while McCaffery enjoyed some success and is Iowa’s all-time wins leader, the program has not advanced to even a Sweet 16 this century – their last coming in 1999.

WVU also has the clear edge in legendary figures and even relevant alumni names still active in the sport, something that can matter in recruiting.

For a related story, WVU director of athletics Wren Baker offered his own thoughts on the rumors surrounding Darian DeVries.