TITLE: Boiling Point in Morgantown — Coach Ross Hodge Explodes Over Unpaid Salary in Feud with WVU AD Wren Baker
In what insiders are calling one of the most explosive off-court developments in recent West Virginia University athletics history, men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge is reportedly “aggressively angry” with Athletic Director Wren Baker over a deeply contentious salary dispute that has been simmering for months — and now threatens to boil over.
Sources close to the program revealed that Hodge, who was brought in with high expectations and a reputation for discipline, has not received his full contractual compensation for over three months. According to internal emails and financial memos obtained by a confidential whistleblower, a “clerical hold-up” is being blamed by WVU officials — but Coach Hodge isn’t buying it.
“This isn’t a glitch. This is a betrayal,” Hodge was overheard saying during a fiery closed-door meeting in the Coliseum offices earlier this week. “You asked me to build a program, recruit talent, and win in the Big 12. I’ve held up my end. Pay me what I earned.”
Staff members described the coach as visibly furious, pacing the hallway and refusing to shake hands with Baker during recent press events. One assistant reportedly found Hodge in the film room at 2 a.m., still in his game suit, slamming scouting reports onto the desk while muttering about “broken promises” and “disrespect at the highest level.”
The tension has reached such a fever pitch that the Mountaineers’ summer workouts have been clouded with uncertainty. Players, many of whom transferred in based on Hodge’s direct commitment, are said to be growing anxious over his long-term future at WVU. “Coach Hodge is our rock,” said junior guard Keon Bradley. “If they lose him over this… man, it’s gonna shake the whole locker room.”
Athletic Director Wren Baker, known for his polished demeanor and reputation as a deal-closer, finally addressed the swirling rumors in a brief and tightly scripted press conference Friday evening. “We value Coach Hodge and appreciate everything he’s done for this program,” Baker said. “There have been some administrative delays, and we’re working around the clock to resolve them. I’m confident this will be behind us very soon.”
But insiders aren’t convinced. A leaked internal memo from the WVU finance department, dated two weeks ago, indicates that the delay may be related to broader athletic budget reallocations — likely due to overspending on the new NIL infrastructure and the recent $78 million donation for the football program’s luxury travel revamp.
“Basketball feels like an afterthought right now,” a senior athletics staffer told reporters under condition of anonymity. “Ross is getting squeezed, and he’s not going to sit back and smile through it.”
With preseason practice looming and booster pressure mounting, all eyes are now on whether this high-stakes standoff will end in resolution — or resignation.
As the storm clouds gather in Morgantown, one thing is clear: the Mountaineers may be entering their toughest battle yet, and it’s not happening on the court.
