Why Darian DeVries Walked Away from West Virginia After One Season: “Love for Money Over Loyalty to the Game”
The sun had barely risen over Morgantown when news broke that sent shockwaves through college basketball circles: Darian DeVries, the man hailed as the architect of West Virginia’s fast-paced basketball renaissance, had walked away after just one season. One brilliant, headline-grabbing season that ended with a Sweet 16 run and national Coach of the Year buzz.
Now, he was gone.
No farewell press conference. No letter to the fans. Just a crisp press release citing “professional advancement and personal reasons.” But insiders knew better. This wasn’t about family. This wasn’t about philosophy. It was about cash—pure, unfiltered, unprecedented cash.
Sources close to the Mountaineers’ program revealed that DeVries had been offered a staggering $42 million guaranteed deal by a southern blue-blood university desperate for immediate relevance. Private jet access, a blank check for staff, full control of NIL distribution. It was the kind of offer that would make any man blink. But in West Virginia, where basketball isn’t just sport but culture, it felt like betrayal.
“This program gave him everything,” said longtime booster and former WVU player Marcus Lanier. “He had the keys to a kingdom. The team bought in. The town bought in. And he left. For money. Not legacy.”
DeVries had been brought in during a chaotic offseason, hand-picked to stabilize a fractured locker room and energize a fanbase still reeling from past controversies. He delivered, assembling a tight-knit, defense-first roster, grinding out wins with discipline and grit. Practices were intense, film sessions obsessive. He preached loyalty. He talked family. But when the checks started talking, loyalty seemed negotiable.
What stung even more wasn’t just that he left—it was how abruptly he did it. His departure came just days after telling recruits and returning players that he was “building something legendary in Morgantown.” Four-star point guard Jaylen Rhodes, who had committed to WVU because of DeVries’ vision, decommitted within hours of the announcement.
“Feels like we were used,” Rhodes wrote on X. “Told me it was about the culture. Guess it was about the commas.”
The backlash was swift. West Virginia fans flooded social media with messages of disappointment and betrayal. University President Kayla Winters issued a terse statement: “We thank Coach DeVries for his service and will continue our pursuit of a leader who shares our values of commitment, culture, and consistency.”
But perhaps the most telling reaction came from within the locker room. Team captain Malik Spencer, who had become DeVries’ on-court extension, posted a single word on Instagram: “Fake.”
Darian DeVries’ time at West Virginia will be remembered not just for its promise, but for the disillusionment that followed. In an era where the lines between loyalty and leverage blur more each season, his exit stands as a cautionary tale: when love for money outweighs love for the game, even the most hopeful rebuilds can crumble in silence.
