Rich Rodriguez is set for a return to West Virginia University as head football coach, a position he last held until 2007. Athletic director Wren Baker announced Rodriguez's appointment 17 years after his exit to Michigan, marking a new era after Neal Brown's dismissal earlier this month. Rodriguez, known for his innovative spread offense, aims to revitalize a team that hasn't been ranked since 2018 and hasn't yet made a Big 12 championship appearance since joining the league.
During his initial run at West Virginia, Rodriguez achieved significant success with a 60-26 record from 2001 to 2007, earning multiple Big East titles. However, some fans remain disenchanted due to his abrupt departure for Michigan, worsened by a devastating loss to Pittsburgh two weeks before he left. Reflecting on that game, Rodriguez remarked, "We picked an awful time to have our worst offensive game in years." Despite past tensions with university leadership, Rodriguez aims to mend relationships as he tackles the Mountaineers' nine-game skid against ranked teams.
Rodriguez's career since leaving West Virginia has been turbulent, including a challenging tenure at Michigan and controversies at Arizona. More recently, he led Jacksonville State to a 27-10 record, establishing his expertise in offensive strategy. He plans to bring this experience back to Morgantown in hopes of providing stability and success. A highly anticipated match on September 13 against Pittsburgh provides an opportunity to heal old wounds and possibly set a new direction for the program. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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