Video: Archive footage of Rich Rodriguez during his first coaching tenure at WVU.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — Signs are pointing to a familiar face at the helm in Morgantown next fall.

According to ESPN Senior Writer Pete Thamel, sources say that West Virginia University is targeting former head coach Rich Rodriguez to make a return to the position during the 2025-2026 season and that a deal is in the works, but has yet to be finalized.

Rodriguez previously coached the Mountaineers between 2001-07 and racked up three straight 10-win seasons at the helm before leaving for Michigan after the 2007 season. He since has coached for programs like Arizona and most recently led the Jacksonville State Gamecocks to a Conference USA Championship in 2024.

WVU has yet to make an official announcement on who will coach the team in 2025 after the school parted ways with Neal Brown on Dec. 1, but the coaching vacancy has generated a significant amount of media buzz, including from WVU alum Pat McAfee, who has discussed it multiple times on “The Pat McAfee Show” this week.