CHARLESTON, W.Va.——-WVU has a familiar face stepping in as its 36th head football coach.
Rich Rodriquez was announced as the program’s head coach Thursday morning after news broke Wednesday evening that Rodriguez .
Rodriquez previously served as the university’s 32nd head coach from 2001-2007, where he racked up four Big East Conference championships, a Sugar Bowl victory, and a 60-26 record in seven seasons.
Rodriguez was hired by WVU after leading Jacksonville State to back-to-back nine-win seasons with Jacksonville State, including a recent Conference USA Championship victory.
Rodriguez comes back to Morgantown 17 years after leaving for Michigan following a devastating 13-9 loss to rival Pitt in the final game of the 2007 regular season.
Talking to fans in Downtown Charleston, some fans were excited, shocked, indifferent or they remember what happened in 2007 and don’t want him back as head coach.
One fan, Jim Hawley said that he believes that Rodriquez can make the Mountaineer program great again.
“Bring home the Mountaineers, Rodriquez can do it, praise the lord, he’s a high-class coach, and he will make the program successful again,” Hawley said.
Another fan said that despite hearing that fans we upset, he was going to remain optimistic.
“Yeah, I think some fans are a little upset, but you know if were undefeated going into October I think they’ll be happy again, so I’m just going to optimistic for now,” he said.
Rodriquez was able to lead the Mountaineers to win 60 games as their head coach in the seven years he was there.
Despite all of the games he led the team to win, one fans reaction was that they remembered what happened 17 years ago and didn’t want him to come back.
“My reaction to Rich Rodriquez, bringing him back, no, I remember what happened before,” he said.
One fan was shocked when he was announced as the next head coach.
“Just a little shocked that he’s coming back and also a little shocked that the market wasn’t bigger than it was but also excited for him to get a second chance to see what he can do in Morgantown,” he said.
Another fan said that Rodriquez will be able to get the Mountaineers back to where they were when he coached the first time around.
“I feel kind of indifferent, I grew up during the time when West Virginia was in the top five during the Rich Rod years,” he said. “So, I’m kind of excited about the opportunity to possibly get us back there. I think he can do it quick with the right type of coaching staff and with the NIL money to back it up, I’m willing to give him another chance and see how it goes.”