© Wesley Hale-Imagn Images / © Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The West Virginia basketball program has found its new head coach. The Mountaineers will lure Ross Hodge away from North Texas to replace Darian DeVries.
DeVries enraged fans with his unexpected departure at season’s end. It capped an all-time bad week for WVU.
The Mountaineers were considered a March Madness lock prior to the Big 12 Conference Tournament. A first-round exit was a hit to the resume, but most still believed they’d be playing in the Big Dance when all was said and done.
In fact, 111 of 111 bracketologists had them in the field. The selection committee, however, did not. West Virginia was the first team left out as they were passed over for North Carolina.
The decision sparked a domino effect of response, which culminated with the governor’s investigation into the NCAA. As if that rejection wasn’t enough, the program would soon be spurned by one of its own.
Darian DeVries bailed for Indiana after just one season. He was a member of the athletic department for just 359 days.
The fanbase immediately accused Indiana of tampering. DeVries’ introductory press conference in Bloomington did little to quiet the noise.
“The process is the process, I know how it plays out. As they’re going through the season, they were very respectful of making sure my focus continued to be on my team.”
-Darian DeVries
It wasn’t an admission that he’d been in contact with Indiana prior to season’s end. The optics weren’t great, though, considering the outside noise.
West Virginia basketball fans were angry that Indiana potentially tampered with their head coach prior to season’s end. Now, the Mountaineers have done the same to find his replacement.
West Virginia is hiring Ross Hodge.
Hodge has coached at North Texas for two seasons. His team is still playing in the NIT. They’re one of four teams remaining in the field. They have a legitimate shot at winning the postseason title.
That didn’t stop WVU from making contact. Hypocritical? One could certainly look at it that way!
Hodge has a previous relationship with West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker. Baker held the same position at UNT prior to his current role.
Hodge went 46-23 in two seasons with the Mean Green. He still has a chance to add to that win total and bring home a trophy this postseason.
Now, he’ll take a step up in competition with the Mountaineers. West Virginia wasted no time in making the move, even with their replacement still coaching another team.