West Virginia Legends Taking on Roles with Mountaineer Football Staff
Three of the top players in WVU football history are now part of coach Rich Rodriguez’s Mountaineer coaching team.
Quarterbacks Pat White and Rasheed Marshall, along with running back Noel Devine, have all returned to Morgantown.
White, after a recent coaching role with the Los Angeles Chargers, has come back to assist the Mountaineer quarterbacks. Devine is back as an offensive analyst, contributing to the running backs’ development.
Marshall, who stayed on from Neal Brown’s staff, continues as the director of player relations.
Together, the trio amassed nearly 13 miles of yardage during their stellar college careers. Their era also marked one of the most successful periods in the school’s history, with the Mountaineers securing 85 wins and only 30 losses between 2002-10.
Rodriguez reflected on their impact on West Virginia’s winning tradition on Thursday.
“These players really understand the tempo and environment better than anyone else because they’ve lived it,” he explained. “I’ve been lucky to have many former players come back since I’ve been here. Almost one or two each day.”
“Of course, they always exaggerate the stories,” he joked. “They make it sound tougher than it was. They tell me, ‘You can’t let them be soft. I remember when we did this and that.’ I remind them, ‘I probably yelled at you more than them.’”
He continued, noting their pride in the program.
“They understand our system and have been through it. Every coach wants their team to play hard, and we want to push that at all times. It’s not about being an outlier. It’s about demanding consistent effort.”
However, the fact that Pat and Noel were exceptional players doesn’t automatically guarantee they’ll be great coaches.
The late Jerry West, one of the NBA’s greatest players, struggled as a coach despite his deep understanding of the game. His Los Angeles Lakers players often felt West couldn’t relate to those with less talent and lacked the patience needed for coaching.
It was only when he moved to a general manager role that West found success again.
Rodriguez shares the view that top players don’t always transition into top coaches.
“Some believe that average players make the best coaches because they had to work harder to succeed,” Rodriguez said. “I’m not sure about that. Great players earn respect, but they must be knowledgeable. Yelling won’t work if they don’t believe you understand what you’re teaching.”
“First, we need to know what we’re doing, and second, players need to see us making them better,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Rodriguez is confident in White and Devine’s potential.
“They are already making a difference, helping players improve at every position,” he said. “They’re fitting in well. They’re learning how to coach. Pat has some coaching experience, and Noel is gaining it too, but this is big-time college football. It’s a huge opportunity for them to prove themselves and move forward in their careers. Both have bright futures ahead as coaches.”
Rodriguez also has high expectations for Marshall in his administrative capacity.
“Rasheed Marshall is another key asset. He’s been here and does an outstanding job with our players off the field. I’m lucky to have him here,” he said.
West Virginia wrapped up its fifth spring practice Thursday morning at the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility and will conclude this week’s sessions on Saturday.