“They Didn’t Want Me There—So I’ll Beat Them Here”: Ross Hodge Aims at North Texas, Big 12 in No-Holds-Barred WVU Debut
Morgantown, WV — May 29, 2025
If you thought Ross Hodge came to West Virginia to make friends, think again.
In a debut press conference more akin to a prizefight weigh-in than a coaching introduction, Hodge wasted no time naming names, drawing lines, and lighting fires. The former North Texas head coach—whose unceremonious departure stunned college basketball insiders—delivered a blistering address that left the Big 12 rattled and his old employer squarely in his crosshairs.
“They didn’t want me there,” Hodge said, barely hiding the venom behind his words. “So I’ll beat them here. Every year. Every court. Every time.”
The crowd inside the WVU Coliseum media room fell silent, then erupted. This wasn’t just about basketball. It was a declaration of vengeance dressed in Mountaineer blue and gold.
The Denton Divorce
Hodge’s exit from North Texas remains shrouded in behind-the-scenes drama. Despite leading the Mean Green to national respect—three NCAA Tournament berths, a Sweet 16, and a defensive identity that stifled giants—UNT declined to extend his contract after a rumored behind-the-scenes power struggle with athletic department brass.
“It wasn’t basketball,” Hodge said sharply. “It was politics. And I don’t coach politics—I coach killers.”
Insiders say Hodge had grown frustrated with the lack of institutional support and NIL resources, despite outperforming expectations annually. The final straw? The school’s flirtation with hiring outside candidates even after his best season yet.
WVU saw what UNT didn’t: a ferocious tactician hungry for a warpath.
Mountaineer Mentality
In his first official day as West Virginia’s head coach, Hodge immediately framed his hiring as the start of a new basketball culture.
“This isn’t a reset—it’s a rebellion,” he told reporters. “The Big 12 is the toughest league in the country. Good. That means we don’t need to look far to settle scores.”
When asked directly whether he plans to schedule North Texas in the non-conference slate, Hodge didn’t blink: “I’ve already made the call.”
Fans are already salivating at the idea of a revenge matchup. Social media lit up with mock posters reading “Denton Exorcism Tour 2025” and “Green and Mean Gets Buried in Gold.”
A New Villain, or the Hero WVU Needed?
Critics have called Hodge’s tone “abrasive,” “personal,” even “toxic.” But in Morgantown, where sports are spiritual and feuds are generational, it plays like gospel.
“He’s exactly what we needed,” said longtime WVU booster Diane Ferrell. “After years of being underestimated, we’ve got someone who takes it personal. Just like us.”
What Comes Next?
Sources close to the program say Hodge has already revamped the strength and conditioning program, locked down key transfer targets, and implemented a defensive system described internally as “organized chaos.”
“The Big 12’s about to learn what I’ve always known,” Hodge said, wrapping up his remarks. “You don’t bury a coach like me. You just give me a bigger stage.”
The press conference ended without a curtain call—just a smirk from Hodge and a parting phrase that already feels like a rallying cry:
“You didn’t want me there. You’re gonna regret that here.”
