One of the great perks of WV The Torch winning the flagship‑station contract for West Virginia University athletics is airing “The Rich Rodriguez Coaches Show.” Plenty of college teams air a weekly sit‑down with their head coach, but almost all of them top out at 30 to 60 minutes. Rodriguez’s is two full hours every Monday night – a signal, loud and clear, that he wants to open the doors and let Mountaineer Nation watch the rebuild in real time. READ MORE: Real-Time Rebuild: Rodriguez Gives WVU Fans a Front Row Seat
That time commitment feels personal. Rodriguez is, after all, a Marion County native and can relate to his audience on a variety of levels, not just football. Giving local fans 120 minutes of access each week is a reminder that, titles and salaries aside, he’s one of us. And in a state where the football program doubles as a statewide identity card, that matters.
“I grew up in a coal mining camp. My dad, Vince, was a coal miner. I have great respect for the mining profession,” Rodriguez on growing up in Grant Town. “All the kids my age – even though you could make good money going into the mines after high school – we could see what a tough lifestyle it was and that only athletics and academics could keep us out of the mines.”
Yesterdays
History suggests the Rodriguez revival might not catch fire overnight. When he took the job the first time, in 2001, WVU finished 3‑8 overall and 1‑6 in the Big East, the program’s worst record since 1978. One year later, the Mountaineers flipped to 9‑4 (6‑1 Big East), the biggest single‑season turnaround in conference history.
From 2003‑07 the wins kept stacking (8‑5, 8‑4, 11‑1, 11‑2, 10‑2 regular season), good for a cumulative 60‑26 mark and four Big East titles.
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With only a handful of returning players that have started a game, the expectations for this season should be measured.
Having an outlet to speak directly to the fans will be vital, especially since this time around he’s dealing with social media and podcasts. In real-time we can learn about the progress of the Power Spread offense and the blitz happy defense. For a fan base often painted by outsiders as impatient or “irrational,” that transparency is the antidote.
PATIENCE
Rodriguez himself has leaned into the theme of patience since stepping back onto campus last winter. On an ESPN College GameDay podcast this spring he said, “I’m not the same coach I was back then… We’ve gotten better every year – or at least we’ve tried to anyway.” Later in the same interview he admitted, “It took us a couple games [at Jacksonville State]; we weren’t very good and then we won eight in a row and won the league.”
Having one of the most prominent figures in the state provide weekly insight into the program doesn’t just benefit the fans. It could also be a major asset in recruiting.
In the NIL and transfer portal era, visibility and connection matter more than ever. WVU may not be able to out-bid SEC bluebloods for five-star talent, but if a player – or their parents – can see a program taking shape in real time, led by a proven coach and powered by an exciting offense, that exposure can go a long way. Sometimes it’s not just about the biggest paycheck – it’s about believing in the vision.
The show will air every Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and can be heard on the WVTheTorch app, in person in Morgantown or on WVU’s flagship radio station. This includes WZST 100.9 FM and eight other radio affiliates.
