Rich Rodriguez is back, but this isn't the same Morgantown he left in 2007. Honestly, the 4-8 finish in 2025 was a tough pill for West Virginia fans to swallow, especially with that lopsided loss to Texas Tech. But if you’re looking at the latest wvu football coaching news, you’ll see that Athletic Director Wren Baker isn't hitting the panic button yet. He's doubling down on the "Rich Rod 2.0" experiment by letting Rodriguez reconstruct the staff with a mix of old-school Mountaineer grit and modern tactical minds.
The biggest news hitting the wires this January involves the return of a legend. Rick Trickett is officially back as the offensive line coach. If you remember the Pat White and Steve Slaton era, you know Trickett’s "nasty" style defined that front line. He replaces Jack Bicknell, who was part of the 2025 staff that struggled to maintain consistency. It’s a move that feels like a nostalgic play, but Trickett’s track record for developing NFL-caliber talent is exactly what this young roster needs.
The New Faces on the Sideline
It’s not just about the old guard. Rodriguez has been busy filling gaps to ensure the 2026 season doesn't look like the last one. Jay Boulware has been brought in from Kentucky to coach the running backs. This is a massive hire. Boulware is known as one of the best recruiters and special teams minds in the SEC. Having him in the room to mentor 2025 leading rusher Cam Cook—who is expected to be a focal point—is a clear sign that WVU wants to reclaim its identity as a dominant rushing program.
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On the defensive side, Zac Alley remains the focal point as defensive coordinator. Alley, a Dabo Swinney disciple who followed Rodriguez from Jacksonville State, had a "Jekyll and Hyde" season in 2025. The Mountaineers were top five in the nation in sacks early on, but they completely fizzled out during the Big 12 stretch. To fix that, Rodriguez just added Larry Knight as the new defensive ends coach. Knight comes over from Arkansas State and has a reputation for high-motor defensive lines at stops like Georgia Tech and Tennessee.
Why the Roster Turnover is Different This Time
People are freaking out about the numbers. 75 new players. That is a staggering amount of turnover for any program. The transfer portal closes on January 16, and the Mountaineers are currently sitting with 27 transfers coming in and a massive 48-man high school and JUCO signing class.
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Wren Baker recently spoke about this on the 3 Guys Before the Game podcast. He basically said that the 2025 season was a "scratch" because the staff was hired so late they missed the entire high school recruiting cycle. They were "buying what was left" in the portal last year. This year? They have "gas left in the tank" regarding revenue sharing and NIL funds. They aren't just filling bodies; they are targeting specific holes.
- TaRon Francis (WR, LSU): A 4-star talent who should immediately become the WR1.
- Maliek Hawkins (CB, Oklahoma): A much-needed addition to a secondary that got scorched in 2025.
- Devin Vass (OL, Kansas State): A veteran presence to help Trickett rebuild the "Blue Collar" wall.
The "Fish Bowl" Effect
One thing most fans get wrong about the wvu football coaching news is the pressure. Baker mentioned the "fish bowl" of West Virginia sports—how there are 1.8 million people hanging on every possession. He’s looking for coaches who don’t shrink under that. Neal Brown, who is now reportedly finalizing a deal to lead North Texas after his stint as a special assistant at Texas, struggled with that pressure toward the end. Rodriguez, for all his past drama, thrives in it.
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The 2026 schedule is actually looking pretty favorable. WVU faces four teams with new head coaches, including Coastal Carolina and Iowa State. With Matt Campbell heading to Penn State and Mike Gundy out at Oklahoma State, the Big 12 is wide open. If Rodriguez can get this staff to gel, the Mountaineers won't just be "competitive"—they might actually surprise the entire conference.
Actionable Insights for Mountaineer Fans
If you’re following the coaching carousel and roster moves, keep these three things in mind as we head toward spring practice:
- Watch the O-Line development: Rick Trickett’s impact won't be felt in February, but by the Gold-Blue game, you should see a shift in the technique and "mean streak" of the front five.
- Monitor the Secondary: With 27 transfers, the chemistry in Zac Alley's defense is the biggest wildcard. If Maliek Hawkins and Andrew Powdrell can't lock down the edges early, the sack numbers won't matter.
- Trust the Revenue Share: Baker has hinted that WVU is finally "highly competitive" with its pool of funds. This isn't the "poor Mountaineer" era anymore. They are spending to win.
The coaching news out of Morgantown suggests a program that is finally done apologizing for its past and is ready to get back to the "hard-edge" football that defined the early 2000s. Whether 75 new players can learn a system in six months is the $2 million question.