Ross Hodge has officially stepped into his role as the 24th head coach of West Virginia University’s men’s basketball program, but the Coliseum isn’t entirely unfamiliar to him.
Back in December 2021, while serving as associate head coach at North Texas, Hodge had his first taste of WVU basketball when the Mean Green visited Morgantown. Although the crowd was small due to lingering pandemic restrictions, the impact of the experience stayed with him.
“The gunshot [from the scoreboard effects] was so loud, it echoed for 15 seconds,” Hodge joked. “But I had the chance to see the facilities and feel the history.”
The Mean Green led that game at halftime, only to fall 62–50. Still, the atmosphere and tradition surrounding WVU basketball left a lasting impression on Hodge.
Calling the Coliseum Home
Fast forward four seasons, and that once-intimidating arena has become Hodge’s new home court. And he couldn’t be more thrilled.
“The Coliseum is like a palace, man,” Hodge said. “It feels like walking into the Roman Coliseum. It’s an incredible place.”
But beyond the state-of-the-art facilities and the highly-rated home-court advantage (ranked No. 1 on KenPom), it was the people of West Virginia who drew him in the most.
The Power of People
Throughout the hiring process, one theme kept emerging: the people.
“Everyone I talked to said, ‘You’ll love the people there.’ And they were right,” Hodge said. “From the moment we stepped off the plane, we felt it. There’s no better people anywhere on this planet.”
This shared value system is one that Hodge deeply connects with. Raised in Dallas, Texas, Hodge credits his work ethic to his mother, who worked three jobs and often went 20 straight days without a break. That kind of toughness shaped his defensive-minded, blue-collar coaching style.
“If you think our team looks tough, that’s because I was raised by a tough woman,” Hodge said, holding back emotion.
A Deep Respect for Tradition
Hodge is well aware of the legacy he’s inheriting. From Gale Catlett to John Beilein and, of course, Bob Huggins, West Virginia basketball has a storied past.
He fondly recalled watching Huggins embrace Da’Sean Butler after his heartbreaking injury in the 2010 Final Four.
“You could see the love and compassion he had for his players,” Hodge said. “That’s what makes a coach successful—not just strategy, but real relationships.”
Building a Program Through Relationships
While today’s college basketball world has become more transactional, Hodge remains rooted in a people-first approach.
“To me, everyone has equal value,” he said. “No one’s more important than anyone else—not even the head coach.”
It’s that humility and emphasis on connection that he believes will help him succeed in Morgantown.
Now, Hodge has the chance to build something lasting—not just through wins, but through culture. In a palace he once admired from the visitor’s bench, he now gets to call the shots.
And more importantly, he gets to build it all on the foundation of what he values most: people.
