Former WVU Coach Darian DeVries Locked in Bitter Dispute with AD Wren Baker Over Unpaid Compensation
In a dramatic turn of events that has rocked Morgantown, former West Virginia University men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries is now entrenched in a tense legal and public battle with WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker. At the center of the dispute are allegedly unpaid salaries and performance bonuses that DeVries claims were contractually promised during his brief but tumultuous tenure with the Mountaineers.
According to documents leaked from sources close to the situation, DeVries is seeking nearly $1.3 million in unpaid compensation, including a $750,000 performance bonus tied to WVU’s surprise run to the Big 12 semifinals, as well as deferred salary payments outlined in his original contract signed in April 2024. Despite the team’s underdog rise late in the season, DeVries’ efforts, he alleges, were met not with reward, but with red tape and institutional silence.
Tensions reportedly began simmering in late March, after DeVries’ coaching staff received only partial bonus payments. Several assistant coaches quietly departed in April, citing “contractual inconsistencies,” though few were willing to go on record. Sources inside the athletic department describe a growing rift between DeVries and Baker that peaked during an April 28 meeting, during which raised voices could be heard behind closed doors at the WVU Coliseum.
The university, for its part, has remained largely silent. In a brief and carefully worded statement, WVU Athletics claimed all obligations “consistent with university policy and NCAA regulations” had been met. However, DeVries’ legal team has called that statement “purposefully vague” and is now preparing to take the matter to arbitration. A 17-page letter sent to the WVU Board of Governors alleges breach of contract, retaliation, and “professional sabotage” by top athletic officials.
“This is about more than money,” said a representative close to DeVries. “It’s about honor. Coach DeVries brought discipline, grit, and dignity back to a team that was all but written off. And this is how the university chooses to respond?”
Behind the scenes, the situation has created fractures throughout the athletic department. Staff morale is reportedly low, with whispers of more resignations to come. Several donors have paused contributions pending the resolution of the conflict, including one booster who labeled the current leadership “toxic and reckless.”
While DeVries has since returned to Iowa, where he’s reportedly considering other coaching opportunities, sources say he remains “emotionally invested” in clearing his name and setting the record straight. Whether through courtroom proceedings, NCAA mediation, or public scrutiny, this fight seems far from over.
As for Wren Baker, he remains at the eye of the storm—unmoved, unflinching, and, for now, unwilling to offer any concessions.
One thing is certain: this isn’t just a contractual dispute. It’s a clash of values, visions, and reputations that could reshape WVU Athletics for years to come.
