To say WVU Men’s Basketball dealt with coaching turmoil for the past three years would be a gross understatement. Mountaineer legend Bob Huggins stepped down before the 2023 season, Josh Eilert filled in for a year, and Darian DeVries left for “greener pastures” after one year at the helm. Ross Hodge, based on character alone, feels like a much-needed anchor for the program. Read more: Hodge brings good character and coaching to WVU hoops culture.
Hodge holds an 11-5 record in his first 16 games as WVU’s head coach. He’s already snagged two marquee wins in his first year, blowing out Pitt and handling Kansas in front of lively home crowds in Morgantown.
This goes beyond the court, however. The first-year leader has genuinely embraced the town, the university, and the entire Mountain State.
The art of understanding
Every coach comes out and tries to say the right things in front of the media. It’s part of their job.
It takes more effort to understand the culture of the state that a school such as WVU represents. Take this statement, for example, one that resonated with West Virginians near and far.
“Before we start talking basketball, I want to send my condolences and my prayers with the family of Steven Lipscomb, a miner that tragically lost his life in an accident earlier this week. We had the chance to take our guys to a coal mine in the fall and got a chance to meet a lot of those guys and spend time with a lot of those people and hear their stories and share stories. I saw that news and we talked about it before the game. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his wife, kids. That’s what makes this place special. We’re very fortunate, and there’s a lot of people that do a lot of things to make our lives better. Just wanted them to know how much we appreciate all of those guys that do that line of work.”
Hodge prefaced the postgame press availability with these words, putting the people of the state first. That means something here. Forget beating your rival by 22 points; West Virginia needed to hear that from Hodge.
The art of earning respect
Beyond understanding on the outside level, the locker room respects Hodge. There isn’t a single press conference, win or lose, that Honor Huff, Treysen Eaglestaff, or whoever speaks, doesn’t give credit to their coach and his staff. Most teams do that anyway, but it feels genuine.
Related: Here we go again? WVU Men’s Basketball gives fans a reason to believe
Respect and trust are two traits desperately needed in this particular program. DeVries and his son skipped town less than a year ago, shortly after the team missed out on March Madness.
When the fans and players respect and trust a coach, it forms a bond around the program. It hasn’t felt this real since Huggins departed.
The art of just being a solid coach
It’s too early to tell where Hodge’s tenure in Morgantown will take him. At the end of the day, he’s just a good guy who knows how to coach his players.
His unwavering belief in a player such as Eaglestaff, one who struggled mightily and faced constant scrutiny for several games, is game-changing. The North Dakota native has been integral in the past few WVU victories, and has slowly grown into the athlete he was hyped up to be. It’s about tapping into potential, after all.
I believe coach Hodge is the right fit for WVU hoops.
The road ahead
WVU (11-5, 2-1) travels to No. 7 Houston (15-1) on Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. in the Lone Star State. Hodge and his legacy have a chance to grow against the Cougars.
Tuesday’s game is streaming on FS1, as well as 100.9 FM The Torch and its nine affiliate stations.
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