Ross Hodge Not Afraid to Set High Expectations, Lofty Goals for WVU

It’s always difficult to quantify or set expectations for a coach in his first year at a new school, but Ross Hodge isn’t afraid to set the bar high for WVU. While getting West Virginia back in the NCAA Tournament is the first step, that’s far from the ultimate goal for Hodge.

In an interview with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Hodge made it clear that he’s striving to win a national championship for the Mountaineers.

“Obviously, want to get back to the NCAA Tournament. I mean, the ultimate goal would be to win a national championship,” Hodge told Rothstein when asked about his goals.

Hodge also realizes his dream is no different than any other coach and putting together a solid roster was his true goal for the 2025 offseason.

“I think that’s what everybody wants to do. It’s not easy to do, but that’s what we want to do here, and to do that, you’ve got to put a team together that’s connected and tough, plays for each other, and plays the right way. That would be the goal. Not only get in the NCAA Tournament, but advance,” added Hodge.

This comment aligns with what he said directly to WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti during a WVU Coaches Caravan event in Pittsburgh.

Even though Hodge has not experienced the NCAA Tournament yet as a head coach, he has won everywhere he’s been and he believes he has a team full of winners.

“Experience matters at this time period, so one thing we’ve tried to do is add guys to our roster who have won and been part of winning, even if it wasn’t winning at West Virginia,” Hodge told Asti about his work in the transfer portal.

“We definitely wanted to add people who have won. Now we have to teach them how we want to win together, but you don’t have to teach them how to win.”

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Hodge’s predecessor Darian DeVries was able to flip WVU from arguably the worst season in program history two years ago to a 10-win turn around. However, that was did not prove enough to make the NCAA Tournament, even if fans will always believe the Mountaineers were snubbed.

As far as the last time WVU was truly a national contender, Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Huggins led West Virginia to the Sweet 16 three out of four years within the last decade, and of course, guided WVU to the Final Four in 2010.

Note: Despite 31 appearances, WVU has never won the NCAA Tournament. West Virginia does claim the 1942 NIT title as a national championship due to the NIT being the premiere national tournament at that time.