--Athletic Director Wren Baker credits all of the people that helped him with the search. He is so happy to have great leadership at the institution. The alignment, vision and leadership are all a reason why they were able to get through the search.
--Today is a day of celebration as West Virginia is one of the top 15 winningest program of all time. Baker said they had tremendous interest in this job from all over. They vetted dozens of candidates and interviewed over 15. Candidates wanted this job because of history, tradition and resources but most importantly the fans. They wanted somebody that understands and embraces West Virginia values and what makes us Mountaineers. Somebody that can demonstrate knowledge of the complexities of an ever-changing college landscape. Baker said they wanted somebody that would entrench themselves in West Virginia and it was important for the head coach to understand that. Coach Rodriguez is a winner. He has coached and won football at virtually every level and is an innovator and known for his creativity. Baker said that when he asked candidates if they had been to Morgantown they would say that they were here 20 years ago to learn something from Rodriguez about offense. He spoke with every administrator that Rodriguez has played for, coaches he played against and players that played for him. Rodriguez was quick to admit he made some mistakes and he is eager to return home. This was his 25th search and he did more calls than any of them.
--West Virginia is getting ready to hold the rope and spot the ball and be West Virginia football.
--Rodriguez said it's great to be home. I should have never left.
--Rodriguez said it's great to have Pat McAfee to come back and he wants every player to come back and he said all of the former athletes are always welcome to come home.
--Rodriguez introduces his family and it means a lot to him to be able to come back and see them. This will always be home.
--Rodriguez said they gave him the opportunity at Jacksonville State to build that program and led him have a chance to prove himself again. It's a great school.
--Rodriguez has thought about it for a long time but you don't know if it will line up right or you will get that opportunity again. All of the support from people, he really appreciated it. There's only one school in the country where Rich can say he knows what it's like to go to school there, coach there and it's West Virginia.
--Rodriguez has tried to throughout his career and in the 17 years since he made the mistake of leaving how can he make himself better or what can he learn and grow na d be the best version of himself and help people grow. He had to do it from learning from mistakes.
--Rodriguez says every former player he has there is so much gratitude for the work they did.
--Our players will play harder than anybody in the country. They might not know the x's and o's in the stands, but they can sit in those stands and tell if they're playing hard. He doesn't make a lot of promises but he will promise that they will play their ass off and play hard.
--Rodriguez said he said yes before he completed his sentence. There's always a time frame to go with it but everybody was really professional. The last 24 hours when you get interviewed. The last seven or eight hours he tortured them and when he got the call he was ready to come home.
--Rodriguez said he understands there are fans that are upset but at least they care. Rodriguez made a mistake and his promise is that he will earn your support and trust back. He is committed to that and wants that opportunity. It's such a great state. He will prove to them that the man to the right made the right decision.
--Rodriguez said there are a lot of uneducated options and all they've tried to do is build the best football program in America.
--Rodriguez said that if he's the same och that he was in 2007 then he didn't follow his own guidelines. This opportunity for him was so good because not only it was home and he wanted to make it right but the school is committed to having a seat at the table and trying to win.
--Rodriguez said that the biggest thing that has changed is the transfer portal and they had success here and coached players really hard.
--5 year contract Rodriguez.
--When it comes to the portal you got guys in the portal for another week and half. He doesn't want to lose any good players. That's the first priority and have to find some guys and evaluate the current players. they got to be completely honest their guys and in the spring where they stand. The revolving door from the transfer portal situation he would like to see it slow down and that's the landscape they're in with their evaluation.
--Baker said West Virginians love to see West Virginians do well. No other candidate had the passion for this state.
--Rodriguez said that with the changing landscape of college sports and college athletes there are so many different things a head coach has to be involved in. Now you're trying to raise money to pay players. There's a lot more a head coach has to do so you better have a great staff. He still calls play but he is going to put together a great staff that can take some of that burden off that.
--Kids now-a-days are bigger faster and stronger. But he's not sure if they are as tough mentally.
--It depends on the coordinator he hires for what the defense will be. He's talked to a couple. He's going to pick a really good defensive coordinator and then will build out the defensive staff.
--They talked a little scheduling in the perfect world they'll have an FCS, power four game and a group of five. They'd like the power four to be Pitt.
--Today is a day of celebration as West Virginia is one of the top 15 winningest program of all time. Baker said they had tremendous interest in this job from all over. They vetted dozens of candidates and interviewed over 15. Candidates wanted this job because of history, tradition and resources but most importantly the fans. They wanted somebody that understands and embraces West Virginia values and what makes us Mountaineers. Somebody that can demonstrate knowledge of the complexities of an ever-changing college landscape. Baker said they wanted somebody that would entrench themselves in West Virginia and it was important for the head coach to understand that. Coach Rodriguez is a winner. He has coached and won football at virtually every level and is an innovator and known for his creativity. Baker said that when he asked candidates if they had been to Morgantown they would say that they were here 20 years ago to learn something from Rodriguez about offense. He spoke with every administrator that Rodriguez has played for, coaches he played against and players that played for him. Rodriguez was quick to admit he made some mistakes and he is eager to return home. This was his 25th search and he did more calls than any of them.
--West Virginia is getting ready to hold the rope and spot the ball and be West Virginia football.
--Rodriguez said it's great to be home. I should have never left.
--Rodriguez said it's great to have Pat McAfee to come back and he wants every player to come back and he said all of the former athletes are always welcome to come home.
--Rodriguez introduces his family and it means a lot to him to be able to come back and see them. This will always be home.
--Rodriguez said they gave him the opportunity at Jacksonville State to build that program and led him have a chance to prove himself again. It's a great school.
--Rodriguez has thought about it for a long time but you don't know if it will line up right or you will get that opportunity again. All of the support from people, he really appreciated it. There's only one school in the country where Rich can say he knows what it's like to go to school there, coach there and it's West Virginia.
--Rodriguez has tried to throughout his career and in the 17 years since he made the mistake of leaving how can he make himself better or what can he learn and grow na d be the best version of himself and help people grow. He had to do it from learning from mistakes.
--Rodriguez says every former player he has there is so much gratitude for the work they did.
--Our players will play harder than anybody in the country. They might not know the x's and o's in the stands, but they can sit in those stands and tell if they're playing hard. He doesn't make a lot of promises but he will promise that they will play their ass off and play hard.
--Rodriguez said he said yes before he completed his sentence. There's always a time frame to go with it but everybody was really professional. The last 24 hours when you get interviewed. The last seven or eight hours he tortured them and when he got the call he was ready to come home.
--Rodriguez said he understands there are fans that are upset but at least they care. Rodriguez made a mistake and his promise is that he will earn your support and trust back. He is committed to that and wants that opportunity. It's such a great state. He will prove to them that the man to the right made the right decision.
--Rodriguez said there are a lot of uneducated options and all they've tried to do is build the best football program in America.
--Rodriguez said that if he's the same och that he was in 2007 then he didn't follow his own guidelines. This opportunity for him was so good because not only it was home and he wanted to make it right but the school is committed to having a seat at the table and trying to win.
--Rodriguez said that the biggest thing that has changed is the transfer portal and they had success here and coached players really hard.
--5 year contract Rodriguez.
--When it comes to the portal you got guys in the portal for another week and half. He doesn't want to lose any good players. That's the first priority and have to find some guys and evaluate the current players. they got to be completely honest their guys and in the spring where they stand. The revolving door from the transfer portal situation he would like to see it slow down and that's the landscape they're in with their evaluation.
--Baker said West Virginians love to see West Virginians do well. No other candidate had the passion for this state.
--Rodriguez said that with the changing landscape of college sports and college athletes there are so many different things a head coach has to be involved in. Now you're trying to raise money to pay players. There's a lot more a head coach has to do so you better have a great staff. He still calls play but he is going to put together a great staff that can take some of that burden off that.
--Kids now-a-days are bigger faster and stronger. But he's not sure if they are as tough mentally.
--It depends on the coordinator he hires for what the defense will be. He's talked to a couple. He's going to pick a really good defensive coordinator and then will build out the defensive staff.
--They talked a little scheduling in the perfect world they'll have an FCS, power four game and a group of five. They'd like the power four to be Pitt.
