Rich Rodriguez resigns from Jax State, returning to West Virginia
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After leading Jacksonville State through the transition to becoming an FBS program, coach Rich Rodriguez has stepped down and is heading back to West Virginia.
Rumors had been swirling since before the Gamecocks won the Conference USA Championship Game but the news became official Thursday morning as both schools announced the move.
Keep reading for a quick recap from Rich Rod’s short tenure in Jacksonville + see more on his move back to Morgantown.
2024 Coach of the Year
Less than 24 hours before he was announced as the next head coach at West Virginia, Rich Rodriguez was named the C-USA Coach of the Year. Despite an 0-3 start, he led the Gamecocks to a 9-4 record which included the program’s first ever conference championship at the FBS level.
In three seasons under Rich Rodriguez, Jacksonville State:
- Won 27 games
- Won their first ever FBS bowl game
- Went 18-3 in conference play
“Coach Rodriguez has been an outstanding leader for Jacksonville State Football, playing a pivotal role in our successful transition to the FBS and making a lasting impact on our program, our student-athletes, and our university as a whole. We understand this is an incredible opportunity for him and his family, and we wish him all the best at West Virginia.”
~ Greg Seitz, Jax State Vice President for Athletics
Jacksonville State will be led by interim coach Rod Smith for the 2024 Cure Bowl when the team travels to Orlando to face off against Ohio.
Seitz said the search for the next head coach at Jacksonville State has already started.
“Jax State is coming off an incredible season, capped by a Conference USA Championship, which has firmly established us as a national brand. This program’s success, tradition, and upward trajectory make it one of the most attractive opportunities in college football. We are excited to find the next leader who will continue to build on this momentum and help us achieve even greater heights.”
~ Greg Seitz, Jax State Vice President for Athletics
WVU brings back Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez was born in West Virginia and played for the Mountaineers from 1981 to 1984. He returned to Morgantown in 2001 for his first head coaching job at the Division I level.
In seven seasons with the program, Rodriguez racked up 60 wins including three straight 10-win seasons from 2005-07. However, he left after the 2007 season to take the head coaching job at Michigan, where he stayed for just three years.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University,” Rodriguez said. “My family and I are filled with gratitude to lead the Mountaineer football program again and look forward to working with the many supporters, fans, and friends to build the best football program in America! Take Me Home!”
~ Rich Rodriguez
This is the second straight hire West Virginia has made by dipping into the state of Alabama. The Mountaineers hired former Troy coach Neal Brown in 2019.
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