Report: WVU Football Finds Cornerbacks Coach

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports the WVU football program is hiring Rod West as its new cornerbacks coach. WVU fan and host of Locked On West Virginia “Mountaineer Paul” mentioned about West’s addition late Friday night.

West has served in that same position and also as pass game coordinator at Appalachian State the last four years.

He’s also been at Richmond, Chattanooga and Moorhead State prior to his Appalachian State tenure.

Below is more information about West from Appalachian State when they hired him in 2021.

“Named to the 2021 American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 list, West spent the last three-plus seasons on staff with the Richmond Spiders, most recently as the co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach. Richmond’s 2020 season was postponed to spring 2021.

In 2019, West served as the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, helping Richmond finish first in the Colonial Athletic Association in passing defense at 194.8 yards per game. Cornerback Daniel Jones was named to the CAA all-conference team after finishing third on the team with 84 tackles, including a team-high 52 solo tackles, and recording two interceptions and five pass breakups.

West spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as Richmond’s dimes coach and was also the co-special teams coordinator in 2018. The Spiders’ 2017 squad finished fifth in the CAA in passing defense at 197.7 yards per game.

He coached at Chattanooga from 2015-16, serving as the cornerbacks/dimes coach as well as recruiting coordinator. During his time with the Mocs, he mentored four All-Southern Conference honorees. Chattanooga led the SoCon in passing defense and ranked top two in the league in total defense in both seasons.

West began his coaching career in 2009 at NAIA school Kentucky Christian, where he worked with defensive backs and assisted with academics. He has also had stints as a graduate assistant for the Division II national runner-up Delta State (2010), defensive backs coach at Texas A&M-Commerce (2011-12) and defensive backs and special teams coach at Morehead State (2013-14).

A native of Selma, Ala., West was a four-year letterman from 2005-08 and a two-year starting defensive back at Southwestern Athletic Conference member Alabama State. He was a member of the Dean’s List his final three years and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2009.

He and his wife, Marcie, were married in 2013. Marcie was a three-time All-America volleyball player at the University of Florida and played in four NCAA Tournaments from 2004-07.”

Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.