New West Virginia men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge has voiced bold aspirations for his time in Morgantown, stating in interviews that he aims to take the Mountaineers back to the NCAA Tournament and ultimately contend for a national title.
While former coach Darian DeVries spent a season at WVU, he and Bob Huggins reportedly never built a relationship. Hodge, however, has expressed admiration for Huggins’ impact and WVU’s elite basketball facilities. Hodge has also been gushing over WVU’s cutting-edge practice facilities, which he first saw when he moved to Morgantown.
Ross Hodge Commits to Winning Culture, Acknowledges Bob Huggins’ Impact
Ross Hodge is setting his foundation in Morgantown with a clear appreciation for the program’s legacy and a vision rooted in togetherness and competitive excellence. In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Hodge expressed his desire to build something meaningful while honoring the past, specifically the contributions of legendary coach Bob Huggins.
Hodge has not yet had the opportunity to connect with Huggins but is optimistic that a relationship will be formed.
“I haven’t yet,” Hodge said when asked if he had spoken to Huggins. “I certainly am hopeful that we will get a chance to get connected. He did so much not only for the program and the university, but he did so much for the state of West Virginia throughout his tenure.”
Reflecting on his initial visit to the WVU facilities, Hodge recalled his surprise at the program’s infrastructure and credited Huggins for its development.
“We played against West Virginia in 2021, and it was post-COVID, so there wasn’t fans here, we were kind of in and out,” Hodge said. “I had not seen the practice facility, my office, I hadn’t seen any of this until I actually came up for the press conference, and I was blown away at how nice this place is. A large credit to Coach Huggins, the people that supported him, and it’s not something that I take lightly.”
He also acknowledged the rich history of Mountaineer basketball, citing icons like Jerry West, Rod Thorn, Hot Rod Hundley, John Beilein, Gale Catlett, and Huggins.
“It’s something you definitely feel. Every day I step foot in this office, I have a great level of appreciation and gratitude for what Coach Huggins did while he was here,” Hodge said.
When asked how he plans to carve out his own identity while respecting the program’s traditions, Hodge emphasized the role time could play in bridging the gap between the past and future.
“Time helps some people, and time hurts some people. I would certainly hope that time will help us,” he said. “The more time Coach gets to see how we play, get a chance to meet myself… I think he’ll appreciate the way that we play the game. The toughness, the grit, the togetherness… I think it’s something not only he, but the rest of the state of West Virginia can get behind and really appreciate.”
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As he continues to assemble his staff, recruit talent, and settle into life in Morgantown, Hodge remains focused on returning West Virginia to national prominence, with hopes of building a program that mirrors the grit and pride Huggins once instilled.
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