Rich Rodriguez Q&A: The secret sauce at West Virgi...
Key takeaways
- By Year 2, he's already recruited 150 new players and gotten a clear idea of the challenge he faces in bringing WVU to the top of the Big 12.
- The Mountaineers went 4-8 in Rodriguez's first season in 2025.
- ESPN: The most striking thing to me is you've had 150 new players come through here since you arrived.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire Pete Thamel May 12, 2026, 07:00 AM ETMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has returned home, completing a circuitous journey to revive the Mountaineer program's glory.
By Year 2, he's already recruited 150 new players and gotten a clear idea of the challenge he faces in bringing WVU to the top of the Big 12. He sums up the state of the game this way: "This is the most chaotic time in the history of college sports."
The Mountaineers went 4-8 in Rodriguez's first season in 2025. What can they do for a sequel? ESPN stopped by Morgantown recently to check in on Rodriguez's progress and see what this year's latest overhauled roster can bring.