West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez says leaving for Michigan 17 years ago was a 'mistake'
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — New West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez admitted Friday he made a mistake by leaving West Virginia for Michigan 17 years ago.
Based on the welcome he got from the thousands of fans who attended his introductory news conference Friday, much seemed to be forgiven.
“This is really surreal,” said Rodriguez, who got emotional and paused a few times during his speech. “I never should have left.”
Rodriguez went 60-26 from 2001 to 2007. The fanbase was devastated, first when West Virginia bungled a chance to play for the BCS national championship by losing to heavy underdog Pittsburgh 13-9 in the 2007 season finale at home, and again when Rodriguez was gone two weeks later for Ann Arbor.
Rodriguez, 61, who was named coach Thursday after spending three seasons at Jacksonville State, said he has grown both as a person and a coach throughout his long career, “and in particular in the 17 years since I made the mistake of leaving.”
