Rich Rodriguez Turns Down Historic $95M NIL Deal from Virginia Tech, Affirms Loyalty to West Virginia: “This Is Home”
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the college football landscape, West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez has turned down a record-breaking $95 million Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) offer from the Virginia Tech Hokies. The deal, reportedly the most lucrative NIL package ever proposed to a coach or program affiliate, was designed to lure Rodriguez away from Morgantown and into the heart of Blacksburg. But the veteran coach, who recently inked a $75 million NIL agreement tied to West Virginia’s brand, made his stance crystal clear: loyalty triumphs over dollars.
“My loyalty lies with the Mountaineers,” Rodriguez said during a press conference held at Milan Puskar Stadium Friday morning. “This is home. We’re building something special here, and no amount of money can replicate the pride, tradition, and love I have for this university and this state.”
Rodriguez, a native West Virginian and former WVU quarterback, returned to coach the Mountaineers in 2023 amid a wave of enthusiasm. Under his guidance, the team has seen a resurgence, finishing last season 10-2 and earning a top-15 national ranking. His leadership has reinvigorated both recruiting and fan morale, with the team’s NIL program—dubbed “Mountaineer Legacy”—becoming one of the most innovative and athlete-forward initiatives in the country.
The $75 million NIL deal Rodriguez signed earlier this spring is a unique hybrid package: part of it funds personal endorsements and media ventures, while a substantial portion is earmarked for the university’s NIL collective, ensuring WVU athletes can benefit directly. The move has positioned West Virginia as a national model for NIL equity, transparency, and growth.
The $95 million Virginia Tech proposal was reportedly front-loaded and included not only compensation for Rodriguez but a full NIL infrastructure reboot for Hokies players, including media rights, branding opportunities, and state-of-the-art marketing tools. According to sources close to the deal, Tech boosters had even drafted a 10-year vision plan around Rodriguez, hoping to recapture their early-2000s glory days.
But Rodriguez never even entered formal negotiations. “We listened out of respect,” a source close to the WVU athletic department said. “But Rich never wavered. He bleeds gold and blue.”
Fans across West Virginia have flooded social media with messages of gratitude and pride. Former Mountaineer greats—from Pat White to Steve Slaton—have voiced their support, calling Rodriguez’s decision “a win for tradition and heart.”
As the 2025 season approaches, West Virginia now finds itself not only with a top-tier coach but as the national face of how NIL can uplift an entire program without compromising integrity.
For Rich Rodriguez, the message is clear. “I didn’t come back just to coach football,” he said. “I came back to finish what we started. We’re not done yet.”
