MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — After a 5-1 overall record and 3-0 record in Jacksonville State’s first season in Conference USA, Rich Rodriguez is officially back as a major player in college football. Rodriguez, in his second year at Jax State, is 14-3 there and has completely transformed the program’s culture in a very short time.
Rodriguez, 60, has been known as one of the top offensive minds in football and now with the success he’s had at Jacksonville State, he’s gaining attention as a head coach who could take over at a Power 5 job when one becomes available. On ESPN’s “College Football Coaching Buzz: Hot Seats and Candidates to Watch”, an article released by the publication earlier today, Rodriguez is mentioned as a candidate to watch for Power 5 job openings.
“Rich Rod’s winding and fascinating coaching road has found new energy at Jacksonville State, which is 5-1 in its first season in the FBS and Conference USA. His team has won in different ways and has started to flex on offense with 80 points in its past two games. Jacksonville State can notch a signature win tonight against undefeated Liberty, and also visits South Carolina in an all-Gamecocks matchup November 4. Rodriguez, 60, has some baggage but is also 177-122-2 overall as a college coach. One more Power 5 opportunity certainly seems possible.”
At West Virginia, Rodriguez took the Mountaineers to unprecented heights, finishing 60-26 overall in 7 seasons, but his teams went 11-1, 11-2 and 10-2 during his final 3 seasons in Morgantown. After leaving Morgantown, however, he didn’t have nearly as much success. He went 15-22 at Michigan before being fired after 3 seasons, then moved on to Arizona, where he went 43-35 in 6 seasons with the Wildcats. Rodriguez was an offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and then the University of Lousiana-Monroe for one season each before ultimately taking the head coaching position at Jacksonville State.
Potential jobs with coaches currently on the hot seat that could become available during the offseason that would likely be of interest to Rodriguez: Texas A&M, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Indiana, Houston, Virginia Tech, Baylor, Arkansas State, California, Boston College and Miami, among many others.
A Power 5 job “certainly seems possible” for Rich Rodriguez, according to ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ZMoLJsk3Aa
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) October 10, 2023
Rich Rodriguez's Jacksonville State is so much fun to watch. Class hard edge on defense combined with innovative and eletric offensive attack. Just beautiful football.
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) October 11, 2023
