MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — If you didn’t think that Rich Rodriguez was a top candidate to become the next head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers before tonight, you might be now! Rodriguez has led his Jacksonville State Gamecocks to a 52-12 blowout victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Conference USA Championship! During his three seasons with the Gamecocks, Rodriguez is an impressive 27-10 overall and 18-3.
Jacksonville State has now won their first-ever conference championship at the FBS level, in just their second year in the league after transitioning from FCS football! This, of course, is a huge win personally for Rich Rodriguez, who is now considered a top candidate to return home as the head Coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Earlier today, it was reported that Rodriguez, 61, is scheduled to meet with WVU’s director of athletics, Wren Baker, for an official interview for the position likely set for tomorrow. According to WV News, “Rich Rodriguez is reportedly set to interview for the Mountaineers’ head coaching position, following the departure of Neal Brown. Rodriguez, who led WVU to national prominence in the early 2000s, has the backing of influential boosters and former Mountaineers punter-turned-media star Pat McAfee, according to sources close to the program.” The report added, “Rodriguez is not the only name linked to the position but some websites are reporting he will be offered the job.”
Not only is Rodriguez coming off a major victory in the Conference USA Championship, he also has a huge backing from big-time donors and former WVU players. Pat McAfee, perhaps the most influential former player in the nation, recently said the following on The Pat McAfee Show: “His name is now being a part of the conversation and I think it has been for the last few years. It’s crazy. That would be one of the wildest things in the history of sports, let alone college football. If he was going to go back to West Virginia, there would have to be a lot of conversations by a lot of people. And believe me, it has been an awesome interaction between me and former teammates talking about the entire idea and the thought of it.”
Earlier this week, Rodriguez was hesitant to answer any questions about leaving Jacksonville State, at least until the Conference USA Championship game was over. “It’s better to have somebody, or somebodies, calling you than not,” Rodriguez said during a teleconference ahead of the Conference USA championship game. “They’re usually not calling you if you’re not having a little bit of success. I haven’t gotten a call from any school. Right now, my focus is totally on this week and this game, and I know there’s a lot of rumors and speculation, and social media helps it to be more rampant than probably what it really is. But, we’re excited where we’re at.”
Rodriguez, who has a career 190-129-2 record and was 60-26 at West Virginia University, is considered among the favorites to return to West Virginia and lead the Mountaineeers again. Now that Jacksonville State has won the Conference USA Championship, don’t be surprised to see his name shoot straight to the top of Baker’s list for potential replacements for Neal Brown now.
