Seventeen years after his successful tenure as West Virginia’s coach ended, native son Rich Rodriguez is returning to the helm of the Mountaineers, the school announced Thursday

After firing Neal Brown following a 6-6 regular season, West Virginia is bringing back Rodriguez, who spent the past three seasons as head coach at Jacksonville State, leading the school’s transition to an FBS program.

Rodriguez led the Mountaineers to a 60-26 record and three consecutive 10-win seasons during his seven seasons (2001-07), including a 2006 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia, but it had a sour ending after an upset loss to Pitt in 2007. The Mountaineers would’ve earned a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game with a win, but instead, he left to coach Michigan and was embroiled in a legal battle over a buyout.

Since Rodriguez left, West Virginia hasn’t been nationally ranked since 2016 and has only one 10-win season after joining the Big 12 in 2012, so his return could help lead the Mountaineers back to local and national relevancy.

“West Virginians always find their way home again,” university president Gordon Gee said in a statement Thursday.

“I have spoken to Coach Rodriguez, and it is clear that his time away has provided reflection and renewed appreciation for West Virginia and West Virginia University. We look forward to having Rich, his family, and his winning record back in Morgantown.”

The 61-year-old Rodriguez hasn’t matched the success he found at West Virginia, going 15-22 in three seasons at Michigan (2008-10). He then coached Arizona with mixed results, posting a 43-35 record over six campaigns (2012-17).

More recently, Rodriguez has guided Jacksonville State to 9-4 records the past two seasons, including a Conference USA title this season. That school announced Rodriguez’s resignation Thursday and said offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Rod Smith will serve as the interim head coach during the StaffDNA Cure Bowl in Orlando next week.

In 18 seasons as an FBS head coach, Rodriguez is 136-91, a .599 winning percentage. He is 6-6 in bowl games.

West Virginia will face Memphis in the Frisco Bowl next Tuesday. Offensive coordinator Chad Scott is serving as interim head coach.

–Field Level Media