WVU HC Rich Rodriguez Admits Past Mistakes: ‘Should’ve Never Left’

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – There was one main point WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez wanted to hammer home during his introductory press conference – it’s great to be home.

Rodriguez continuously kept bringing up his feelings about being back in West Virginia as the leader of the Mountaineers while talking to WVU fans, and even his detractors too, about what his second tenure will be like.

“It is great to be home. Should’ve never left,” said Rodriguez, who also had to step back to stop himself from getting choked up.

WVU HC Rich Rodriguez: “It is great to be home. Should’ve never left.”

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) December 13, 2024

Part of what got Rodriguez emotional was when he described the passion he still feels for his home state and school.

“I get to coach at the greatest university in this country. I get to live in the greatest state in the union. And more importantly, I get to be around the greatest people that you can be around,” he said while holding back tears.

Rodriguez admitted that he always hoped he would someday get the opportunity to return to West Virginia to right the wrong of his 2007 exit and finish the unfinished business left from the way his first tenure ended.

He even said he gave WVU director of athletics Wren Baker a yes about his interest upon just taking the initial call that started a continuous dialogue throughout the search process.

Rodriguez, a West Virginia native, currently holds a 190-128-2 overall coaching record. He experienced most of his success while leading the Mountaineers from 2001-2007. At WVU, Rodriguez won four Big East titles and was named conference Coach of the Year twice. He added a third Coach of the Year honor in the Pac-12 in 2014 with Arizona.

But no matter how many games he won and trophies he lifted, Rodriguez’s first WVU tenure was tainted by the way he left – bolting for Michigan following the infamous 13-9 loss to Pitt, a defeat that cost the Mountaineers a trip the BCS National Championship Game.

After his departure from WVU, Rodriguez spent three lackluster years at Michigan and six seasons with Arizona, highlighted by winning 10 games and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 2014.

Rodriguez now has been offered something that’s never guaranteed after a breakup – a second chance. And while some fans may be hesitant to embrace him again, Rodriguez does have the support of key donors and notable alums like Pat McAfee, Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt just to name a few.

In November 2022, WVSN’s Mike Asti asked WVU legend Rasheed Marshall if he would ever want Rodriguez to return as head coach of the Mountaineers during an episode of their past “All Three Phases” podcast.

For a related story, Mike Asti details the immense pressure that’s now on Rich Rodriguez to win big back at WVU.