WVU Athletics Brings Rob Alsop Back in New Role

The WVU athletic department welcomed back a familiar figure this week. Rob Alsop is back with West Virginia to take on the role of Senior Deputy Athletics Director.

Alsop previously held the title of Vice President of Strategic Initiatives before stepping down in November 2023 due to a reshuffling of the unit.

Alsop’s new position has been open since it was vacated by Steve Uryasz in March. Uryasz left WVU to become athletic director at Tarleton State University.

Alsop will now assist director of athletics Wren Baker in an administration capacity, working on daily operation management and oversight of capital and special athletic projects, according to the WVU Athletics staff directory. He will also oversee the Student-Athlete Academic Services and Facilities and Operations departments.

Prior to his return to WVU, Alsop has been working at Jackson Kelly PLLC and as a managing member of Addison Strategies Group LLC.

Alsop was WVU’s interim athletic director during the transition from Shane Lyons until the hiring of Baker.

Alsop’s full biography on the WVU staff directory can be read below: 

Rob Alsop joined the West Virginia University athletics staff in November 2024 as the senior deputy athletics director.

He assists the athletics director on all aspects of athletic administration, provides management of daily operations and oversees capital and special projects. Alsop also supports the athletics director in coordinating with WVU’s Central Administration and state legislative initiatives while overseeing the units of Student-Athlete Academic Services and Facilities and Operations.

Alsop comes to Athletics from the law firm of Jackson Kelly PLLC and as a managing member of Addison Strategies Group LLC. He has spent the past nine months advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, strategic execution and government relations.

Before moving to the private sector, Alsop previously served as WVU’s vice president of strategic initiatives, working closely with the president of the University and the WVU Board of Governors. Alsop also oversaw multiple units within the University. He was West Virginia’s interim director of athletics in November 2022, when he guided and stabilized the department through a change in leadership. Alsop also served as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the WVU Foundation during his previous tenure at WVU.

Prior to WVU, Alsop was chief of staff for West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and had roles with US Senator Carte Goodwin and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin. Between stops in state and federal government, he worked in the law offices of Jackson Kelly as well as Bowles Rice and was the law clerk for US Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Robert B. King.

Alsop earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from West Virginia in 1999 and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the WVU College of Law in 2002. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor in the WVU College of Law and the Chambers College of Business and Economics.