BREAKING NEWS: Rich Rodriguez Named MFC College Coach of the Year
In a significant and well-deserved recognition, West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez has been named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious MFC (Midwest Football Conference) College Coach of the Year award. Rodriguez edged out stiff competition from some of the most high-profile names in college football, including Kansas State’s Chris Klieman, Arizona’s Brent Brennan, and Colorado’s Deion Sanders.
This award marks a triumphant return to national prominence for Rodriguez, who rejoined West Virginia as head coach in 2023 after more than a decade away from Morgantown. In just two seasons, Rodriguez has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround for the Mountaineers program, transforming it from a middling Big 12 team into a legitimate conference contender.
Under his leadership, the Mountaineers posted a 10-2 regular season record in 2025, including crucial wins over perennial powerhouses such as Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and a dramatic overtime victory against Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes. The team’s dynamic offense, reminiscent of Rodriguez’s high-octane spread schemes from his first WVU stint in the mid-2000s, has been a nightmare for opposing defenses, averaging over 35 points per game.
The MFC cited Rodriguez’s “innovative coaching, leadership in player development, and transformative impact on the West Virginia football program” in their decision to honor him with the award. Many college football analysts echoed the sentiment, noting that Rodriguez’s ability to adapt his offense to modern defensive schemes while maintaining the aggressive, fast-paced style that once revolutionized college football was nothing short of remarkable.
Rodriguez, visibly emotional during the announcement, thanked his players, coaching staff, and the West Virginia fan base. “This is not just about me—it’s about everyone who believed in this program, who believed we could bring West Virginia football back to where it belongs,” he said. “I’m honored, but I’m even more excited about where we’re going next.”
While Chris Klieman’s Wildcats impressed with their defensive dominance, Brent Brennan’s Arizona squad overachieved, and Deion Sanders’ star-studded team drew massive media attention, it was Rodriguez’s ability to deliver consistent results on the field that ultimately set him apart.
With this award, Rich Rodriguez not only reaffirms his status as one of college football’s elite minds but also sends a clear message: West Virginia is back, and under his guidance, the Mountaineers are once again a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12 and beyond.