Richard Rodriguez is officially going back home to coach at West Virginia.
Rodriguez, who revitalized his head coaching career in three years at Jacksonville State, previously coached the West Virginia Mountaineers from 2001-2007 and played there from 1981-1984
While leading the West Virginia program, Rodriguez was 60-26, winning the Big East Conference championship four times (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007) and was named the Big East's Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005. The Mountaineers won the 2006 Sugar Bowl and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.
In his resignation on Thursday to accept the head coaching position at West Virginia, Rodriguez expressed his gratitude for his time in Jacksonville.
"It has truly been an honor and a privilege to be the head football coach at Jax State," Rodriguez wrote. "I am forever grateful for athletic director Greg Seitz, president Don Killingsworth, and the board of trustees for the opportunity. I sincerely appreciate the entire Jax State community, fans, donors, 900 club members, football alumni and many friends of the program for their support the last 3 years."
"Lastly, I want to give special thanks and overwhelming gratitude to the players and staff for their tremendous commitment to hard work and earned success! It has been the honor of a lifetime to coach you the last three years," he continued. "From transitioning into the FBS, to a bowl victory to winning the Conference USA championship, your legacy at Jax State will always be remembered!"
"Coach Rodriguez has been an outstanding leader for Jacksonville State Football, playing a pivotal role in our successful transition to the FBS and making a lasting impact on our program, our student-athletes, and our university as a whole," said Jax State vice president for athletics Greg Seitz. "We understand this is an incredible opportunity for him and his family, and we wish him all the best at West Virginia."
Per Jacksonville State, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Rod Smith will serve as the interim head coach during the StaffDNA Cure Bowl against Ohio in Orlando, Fla. next week. A national search for the next head coach is underway.
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