WVU Athletics
Wren Baker Offers Response to Oklahoma Rumors, His Future at WVU
Wren Baker doesn’t make a habit of addressing rumors, but he did offer a response to the most recent speculation concerning his future at WVU.
During an interview with Taylor Kennedy of the Charleston Gazette, Baker expressed his love for West Virginia and his happiness in his current home.
“First of all, any time your name is thrown out there [then] there will be speculation. It is a credit to the people here [like] the student-athletes, coaches and staff that are doing the majority of the work. I’m the member of a team of several hundred and no one is more significant than the other. People recognize that there are a lot of good things happening at WVU,” said Baker, taking the opportunity to compliment his staff and what’s going on at WVU.
“I love it here [at WVU]. My wife and two girls, more importantly, love it here and love being here. We’re very, very happy here. In the time I’ve been here, I’ve not ever entertained anything else,” he added.
“However, you also don’t want to get into the habit of every time there’s speculation then it’s your responsibility to pour water on it either. “Generally, I don’t address it. I’ve stayed consistent about what I can honestly tell people and that is that we’re extraordinarily happy here.”
WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose
These comments are consistent with what Baker has said since arriving in Morgantown three years ago.
No matter how bumpy the ride has been, Baker has embraced his new home in West Virginia since taking over at WVU. He’s even turned down multiple opportunities to jump ship.
So what caused the most recent rumor about Baker and Oklahoma?
ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news that Oklahoma is preparing to undergo a search for a new athletic director for the first time since 1988. Current OU athletic director Joe Castiglione is expected to retire from his full-time role during the upcoming 2025-26 calendar year.
Up until this point, Baker has guided the Mountaineers into a new world of college athletics, with a revenue sharing opportunity that he feels will better position West Virginia to compete on a national level once again.
And of course, he’s conducted a coaching search for almost every West Virginia team, many of which occurred in the midst of drama. To his credit, Baker has performed admirably under the circumstances and hit home runs on every hire so far, granted Rich Rodriguez in his return and Ross Hodge both still need to prove themselves when their respective seasons start in a few months.
Even though Baker’s name became an instant hot candidate for fans (of both schools) on social media, there’s yet to be any legitimate reporting to suggest the job is his if he wants it. There is some speculation, but it’s simply smoke right now.
Instead, several of WV Sports Now’s contacts and sources close to the Oklahoma program believe Mississippi State’s Zac Selmon is the No. 1 candidate.
Keep calm, Mountaineer Nation. As of now, this is just in the “wait and see” stage when it comes to Baker and his future at WVU.
Find more coverage of Wren Baker at WV Sports Now.
For a related story, Wren Baker details how he’s going to distribute the money to every WVU team in the revenue sharing era.
