Rich Rodriguez West Virginia Rumors: Exploring Jacksonville State HC’s interview chatter with Old Employer
As the 2024 college football regular season is officially over and we are in the conference championship weekend, teams that are not playing and searching for a new coach are going to be in the news. One of the coaches who continues to be in the rumor mill is Jacksonville State Gamecocks coach Rich Rodriguez.
Rich Rodriguez is currently in his second season as the Jacksonville Stat coach and won the Conference USA Championship Game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 52-12. However, one of his former programs has an opening as the West Virginia Mountaineers fired coach Neal Brown on December 1, making a reunion with Rodriguez possible.
Action Network's Brett McMurphy reported that Rich Rodriguez is one of the leading candidates for the vacant coaching position.
After the Conference USA Championship Game, Rich Rodriguez was asked about the report in his postgame press conference. He poured some cold water on the rumor with his response:
"I have nothing scheduled [in regards to an interview for another coaching position]. Other than I'm going to have a great day with Miss Rita and the kids and Roxie and Rambo tomorrow, absolutely great day on Sunday, watching a little film, and then on Monday, getting started to get ready for this great bowl game that we're going to be in a couple weeks."
While coaches have lied about staying in one spot and immediately bolting for an open position, it will be interesting to see if Rich Rodriguez stays for a third season with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
How did Rich Rodriguez do at West Virginia?
Rich Rodriguez was the coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers from 2001-07 to begin his coaching career. In those seven years, he finished with a 60-26 record and made five bowl games in the seven seasons. Rodriguez had a 2-3 record in bowl games and had the team as high as the second-ranked program during the 2006 season, making the Mountaineers a legitimate national championship-caliber program.
There is much buzz as he was able to lead the program to incredible heights, and West Virginia has failed to reach that same height since he left.