If you’re a casual fan, or even a diehard, it’s been downright exhausting trying to keep up with all the coaching turnover and program changes happening at WVU. With football season approaching, now is a great moment to reset and recap the big sports programs in Morgantown. READ MORE: State of the Mountaineers: Where WVU Athletics Stands in 2025
Wren Baker signed an extension through 2032, ending the rumors and giving WVU athletics much needed stability.
Baker has already made his mark by bringing back Rich Rodriguez, hiring Ross Hodge and Mark Kellogg to lead the basketball programs, and promoting Steve Sabins – who has baseball riding its highest wave in program history.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s going on across WVU athletics.
RELATED: Rodriguez Says College Football Should Model the NFL
Football
Homecoming & Culture Reset: Rich Rodriguez was officially named WVU’s 36th head coach on December 12, 2024, returning after 17 years and bringing his signature no-huddle, zone-read spread offense back to Morgantown.
Building Toughness: He’s instilling a “hard edge” – even banning players from dancing on TikTok – to reinforce discipline and team-first mentality.
Reconstructing the Roster: Rodriguez returns amid a massive rebuild: only two returning starters, and up to 85 new players by fall camp. He’s leaning on the model that worked at Jacksonville State, where he won a conference title with a roster of newcomers, and believes WVU can contend in the Big 12 this fall.
Camp Highlights & QB Uncertainty: Summer camp shows promise – Rodriguez noted improvement on defense and situational execution – but concerns remain with persistent penalties and an unresolved quarterback competition between Nicco Marchiol, Jaylen Henderson, and Max Brown.
Staff Moves & Depth Building: Notable hires include Larry Porter as running backs coach and Zac Alley as defensive coordinator. Veterans like Rodney Gallagher chose to stay, signaling buy-in to Rich Rod’s vision.
Men’s Basketball
New Leadership: Ross Hodge was introduced as the 24th head coach in March 2025. He brings an 80% win rate as a head coach and is known for his defensive mastery.
High Expectations Amid Volatility: He inherits a program in flux – he’s now the fourth coach in four years, with staggering roster turnover (47 different players have worn WVU uniforms since 2023)
Program Identity & Community: Hodge aims to build a tough, gritty culture and notes his own “loss of anonymity” in Morgantown – a city hungry for stability and success. His staff drew positive attention statewide by showing strong support for the ‘Best Virginia’ team in Charleston – a promising sign of how they plan to rebuild the program’s connection with the community.
Baseball
Head Coach Steve Sabins stepped into the head role in June 2024 after nine seasons as an assistant and associate head coach. He joined WVU’s staff in 2016 and rose through the ranks before taking over following Randy Mazey’s retirement. Sabins is the 20th head coach in program history.
Historic Season: In his debut campaign, Sabins led the Mountaineers to a 44–16 overall record, an outright Big 12 Regular Season Championship, and a sweep of the Clemson Regional, propelling WVU to its second-straight NCAA Super Regional appearance, where they fell to eventual champs, LSU.
National Recognition: Sabins earned ABCA East Region Coach of the Year honors, joining a select group of WVU coaches to receive that distinction.
All-Big 12 Honors: Multiple Mountaineers earned postseason accolades under Sabins: Griffin Kirn and Logan Sauve (First Team), Jack Kartsonas and Kyle West (Second Team), along with Sam White earning All-East Region First Team.
Women’s Basketball
Depth Growing: In his second season, head coach Mark Kellogg believes this may be his deepest roster yet – potentially 13 players available depending on waivers and visas.
Consistent Performance: The team finished 25–8 in the 2024–25 season, ranked 21st in both major polls, and reached the NCAA tournament’s second round.
Olympic Sports
Beyond the big three of football, basketball and baseball, WVU is still excelling in several sports that don’t always get the spotlight. The rifle team just captured its 20th national championship and remains the gold standard in collegiate shooting. Wrestling is coming off one of its strongest seasons ever with multiple Big 12 champions and a top-10 national finish. Men’s golf, still a relatively new program again, keeps rising in the rankings and hosting big-time tournaments. Soccer, volleyball, track, gymnastics, and the rest of WVU’s Olympic sports are also stacking up wins and recognition.
