Ross Hodge: Top Things the West Virginia’s Head Coach Is Known For
‘‘West Virginia is hiring one of the best young coaches in the country. Ross possesses the grittiness, emotional intelligence, and humility to be successful at any level of basketball.’’ – Dusty May, Michigan Head Coach.
Ross Hodge became the 24th head coach of West Virginia University’s men’s basketball team earlier this year, calling the situation “a blessing” and “an opportunity that I certainly don’t take lightly.” One of his biggest goals upon his appointment was to build his side into one of the premier defensive-style programs in the Big 12.
But, beyond his tactics, Hodge is gaining notoriety for his grit and no-nonsense tendencies, a trait he links to his mom, who worked three jobs to support her family. Hopefully, his toughness can translate to considerable success for the Mountaineers over his tenure. This article highlights top facts about Ross Hodge that every WVU basketball fan should know.
Track Record of Successful Stints
Ross Hodge’s basketball coaching career boasts of a bankable track record that should encourage all Mountaineers about the prospects in his project. He’s earned a name for himself as a highly defensive tactician, who only has one losing season in his managerial career.
Before Ross Hodge’s WVU appointment, he had helped Texas A&M-Commerce make the Division II Sweet 16, heralded Paris JC to the Elite Eight of the 2008 NJCAA Division I. Three years after his time at Paris JC, he headed to Midland College, where he led them to the NJCAA Division I championship game.
His successful career flaunts a 146-24 record and a .859 winning percentage. His four postseason appearances in five eligible years under McCasland at North Texas birthed CBI and NIT championship banners plus his side’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA’s Round of 32 games. Today, Hodge has 192-47 (.803) across seven seasons managing a basketball side.
Intense Links with the Lone Star State
Ross Hodge has undeniably deep connections to Texas. Beyond being his native home, Dallas Texas saw Hodge spend most of his career as a basketball player and coach. His basketball stints at the Lone Star State began at Paris Junior College and Texas A&M-Commerce. Following his graduation, Hodge returned as an assistant for two seasons before joining Paris JC in the same position for another year.
Soon, he’d become head coach for the first time at Paris JC, a role he held for three seasons before joining Midland College within the same state as Grant McCasland’s replacement. Hodge coached Midland College for two seasons before joining first Division I side Arkansas State for one season on McCasland’s team. Both Hodge and McCasland returned to Texas to manage North Texas and replaced his boss when Texas Tech required McCasland’s services in 2023.
Highly Defensive
By his second year at North Texas, Hodge converted the Mean Green into one of the top three-scoring defense teams in the nation. The team has held their foes to as low as 59.9 points per game this season. The Texas native and his team held 13 franchises to less than 60 points and never lost more than 76 points in a match.
Hodge’s team is the 30th best in the nation’s three-point percentage defense (30.6%). That’s not all. The Mean Green were either the best or second-best in the American Athletic Conference in field goal percentage (41.1%), scoring margin (+8.1%), scoring defense, and rebounding margin.
North Texas was the 12th best nationwide based on its scoring defense during the 2023/2024 season, after allowing only 63.8ppg. Comparing Hodge’s stats across teams he’s coached showed a track record of successfully hitting the nation’s top three scoring defenses over the last four years. All teams he coached were also in the NCAA’s best twenty teams in six of the previous seven years. These stats should add more testament to why Ross Hodge salary is worth $2,800,000 in his first year.
Excellent Reputation in the Industry
Besides his reputation as a top herald of highly productive defense sides, the news of having Ross Hodge at West Virginia has brought whispers of an incoming overall solid coach.
Grant McCasland, the respected coach of Texas Tech speaks highly of Hodge, describing him as “an elite basketball team manager and the ultimate winner.”
Meanwhile, Scot Drew, head coach at Baylor described Hodge as a “tremendous coach and leader of young men,” who is a “home run hire.” Speaking about his excellent managerial profile, ESPN college basketball fan Fraschilla calls Hodge a “very capable basketball coach” who is “quietly super competitive and smart.” Elsewhere, Michigan gaffer Dusty May calls Hodge one of the best young basketball coaches in the United States.
College Basketball Betting Tips: Insights from MightyTips
College basketball enjoys top-notch followership within the United States and overseas, with many followers in Hungary and other countries. This is because a significant pool of some of the world’s best basketball talents compete in the league. Alongside this followership is a vibrant team of betting fans who want to take their matchday experience to a whole new level.
However, there are so many betting sites and markets that trying to bet on college football without an adequate understanding of the game can be costly – financially, emotionally, and otherwise. In this perspective, if you are a player in Hungary, it can be helpful to follow respected platforms with resources, recommendations, and reviews that can make the experience successful.
Here are top betting insights from such a platform, MightyTips, to help you maximize your basketball betting adventures:
- Understand the different types of bets
- Leverage early-season odds
- Pay attention to relevant and high-end metrics, especially during March Madness
- Support underdogs on the futures market throughout the season
- Stick to responsible betting habits
Conclusion
Hodge’s coaching career at WVU marks the first time he’ll be coaching at this level while fancying the chance to recruit some of the best talents in the United States and the world. While his recruiting ability may not be as pronounced as his defensive prowess, potential players can rest assured in his reputation for being truthful, honest, and caring about his athletes.
With such a blend of professional qualities, it’s clear to see why Ross Hodge at WVU seems like a good omen for both the manager and the team over the next couple of years.
