West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker fields questions during the 56th annual Kootaga District of the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America Community Leadership Dinner, Thursday at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

VIENNA – Airlines have nothing on the turbulent times the athletic department at West Virginia University has experienced within the past few months.

Now that Rich Rodriguez has solidified his footing in his return as the Mountaineer football coach and new men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge is deep into the recruiting phase for both his roster and coaching staff, the coaching carousel at WVU has simmered down.

“It gets quieter, absolutely,” said voice of the Mountaineers Tony Caridi, who joined WVU athletic director Wren Baker as guests of the 56th annual Kootaga District of the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America Community Leadership Dinner, Thursday at Parkersburg Country Club.

“Things are starting to kind of fall into place – I think that’s a good way to say it,” Caridi said. “Certainly there has been unexpected turbulence. Sometimes you get in the airplane and the pilot says, ‘in a little bit we are going to get turbulence.’ In our case, it kind of hits you while you are going.”

The departure of men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries to Indiana at the conclusion of the regular season blindsided those close to the situation.

West Virginia University athletic director Wren Baker, left, and voice of the Mountaineers Tony Caridi talk WVU athletics during the 56th annual Kootaga District of the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America Community Leadership Dinner, Thursday at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

In the long run, WVU may land into a better place with Hodge, who served as North Texas University’s head assistant coach at the same time Baker was the school’s athletic director. As the Mean Green’s head coach for the past two seasons, Hodge led the program to two NIT appearances.

“Hodge is doing a great job, coming in here and immersing himself in the community,” Baker said. “Darian did a good job here at WVU, but I was disappointed when he rolled out of here. You have somebody who leaves after a year, and somebody you invested a lot of yourself in the search process.

“In our latest search, I let Tony behind the curtain and see the data. We wanted someone with stability and commitment, and someone who can coach. I’ve watched Ross coach over the years and knew what kind of character and what kind of person he was. He is just a natural fit for the culture here.”

This past academic year also witnessed the firing of football coach Neal Brown. A familiar face to the program returned when the school hired Rich Rodriguez.

For many, Rodriguez did not leave on the best of terms after coaching the Mountaineers for seven seasons before taking a similar job at Michigan.

Chairman elect Shawn Taylor thanks the fundraisers during the 56th annual Kootaga District of the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America Community Leadership Dinner, Thursday at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Between several one-on-one discussions with Baker and the press conference to announce his hiring at WVU, Rodriguez won back his critics.

“First of all, Rich loves this state – it’s his state, it’s his school,” Baker said. “Rich leaving was hard on people and it was hard on him over the years to feel disconnected in many ways from people in your home state.

“He is certainly a motivated man and he is working his tail off. I feel like he is taking the right steps to build something special. It is fun to watch somebody who feels such a responsibility to get it right. In the search process, I knew he could coach, but could people get past what happened? After his press conference when he was hired and subsequent interviews, people have rallied behind him.”

From the WVU’s numerous national titles by the rifle team to the runner-up finish by the men’s soccer team this past fall at the NCAA National Tournament to Mark Kellogg building the school’s women’s basketball team into a Top 20 program to a smooth coaching transition within the baseball program, the Mountaineers are competing on a national scale despite the battle for NIL funds.

Baker just returned from Washington D.C. hoping to get WVU’s foot in the door. Both Baker and Rodriguez also appeared before the state senate seeking to approve two bills (HB2576 and HB2595) which would allow WVU, Marshall and other colleges and universities in the state to provide greater NIL opportunities to college athletes.

Jeff Purdy, the scout executive for the Buckskin Council Leadership, delivers a short speech during the 56th annual Kootaga District of the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America Community Leadership Dinner, Thursday at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

On Thursday, both bills were deferred.

“Fortunately today it’s easier than it has ever been to build a roster because of the transfer portal, because of NIL – you are now able literally to put together a team in the course of an offseason and do well,” Caridi said. “Last season, North Texas had seven transfers and three freshmen, and won 27 games. West Virginia had a roster that was put together and was really solid. They won 19 games and should have been in the NCAA Tournament.

“So what’s encouraging is that you can get it done in a short period of time. In the past, it would take a minimum of two and probably three years to build. For Rich Rodriguez, same type of deal. He has access to the resources that he needs to get to the portal and build this thing up quicker than it would have taken in years gone by.”

Thursday night ended with Wren fielding questions from Caridi. When that session ended, the two agreed they would do something which would be a first – a question and answer with those in attendance.

As Caridi plugged it – “Wren Baker unplugged.’

Andrew Murphy, the district executive for the Kootaga District Leadership, spoke to the audience during the 56th annual Kootaga District of the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America Community Leadership Dinner, Thursday at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The only question and answer allowed for print led off with Baker’s favorite color. Quick response: “Old Gold and Blue,” Baker said.

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com