West Virginia job one that should have great interest
West Virginia is back in the market for a new head men’s basketball coach.
The man formerly holding the post, Darian DeVries, left the program for Indiana after one 19-13 season in Morgantown sending the Mountaineers into a process that has become familiar over the past 20-months.
But there are certainly some positives with what DeVries was able to accomplish during his short time in Morgantown when it comes to the next list of candidates looking to fill the post.
“People see that you can come in, get the resources to build a roster to be competitive instantly,” Athletic Director Wren Baker said. “I anticipate having great interest.”
West Virginia expects to be highly competitive in the realms of salary offered to candidates, budget and all other resources for the next head coach to build the program even further.
Baker already started the search process Tuesday but now will dive into it tirelessly in order to bring the best person to Morgantown to fill the role.
It helps matters that West Virginia had just gone through the search process less than a calendar year ago so they’ve been able to do a lot of legwork on potential candidates and dig deep into the resumes of possible options for the position this time around.
“And so, while some of those candidates are off the board, and there's probably a few new ones on the board, a lot of them we've already done deep, deep dives on,” he said.
Baker firmly believes that the position is one that is attractive to a long list of candidates because of the state and it’s people on top of being able to play in one of the nation’s best leagues in the Big 12.
The Mountaineers will be resourced competitively within not only the Big 12, but the national landscape and will rely on the tradition and fan support as well as key factors to sell. In fact, according to KenPom, the Mountaineers have one of the best home advantages in the country only driving home that point.
Baker does anticipate taking the same approach of completing the process quick but not hurrying. The desired goal is to get the best candidate, but there is certainly pressure to be as efficient and quick as possible given the fluid nature of rosters and the transfer portal.
“I think as an athletic director, you have to resist that driving the search because long-term, you can make a mistake trying to solve some short-term concerns,” Baker said.
However, he does believe that this is a search that West Virginia can execute pretty quickly without attaching any sort of timeline to it.
Baker has a lot to sell when it comes to the post and the goal is to find the best man to do it.
“So, the next coach here is going to be extremely fortunate and lucky to be our coach, and hopefully they're going to come in and really work to build a program, put down roots,” he said.
----------
• Talk about it with West Virginia fans on The Blue Lot.
• SUBSCRIBE todayto stay up on the latest on Mountaineer sports and recruiting.
• Get all of our WVU videos on YouTube by subscribing to the WVSports.com Channel
• Follow us on Twitter: @WVSportsDotCom, @rivalskeenan, @wesleyshoe
Topics
-
What qualities could Baker be looking for in next West Virginia head coach?
West Virginia has been thrust back into the search for a head basketball coach. Darian DeVries exited the program after just one 19-13 season, leaving Athletic Director Wren Baker with the task of ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Indiana hires away West Virginia's Darian DeVries after his first season in Morgantown
After just one season with the Mountaineers, former Drake coach Darian DeVries has been hired as the next head coach at Indiana.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Indiana names WVU's DeVries as new head coach
Indiana has hired West Virginia's Darian DeVries as the new coach of the men's basketball program.ESPN - 1d -
Indiana hires Darian DeVries away from West Virginia as new head coach
DeVries went 19-13 with the Mountaineers just one season after they finished 9-23 and last in the Big 12.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Indiana hires Darian DeVries: Will replace Mike Woodson after one season as West Virginia's coach
DeVries just wrapped up his first season with West Virginia after a six-year run at DrakeCBS Sports - 1d -
College basketball transfer portal, recruiting fallout after Darian DeVries leaves West Virginia for Indiana
Some consequential moves await Darian DeVries after he left West Virginia for Indiana.CBS Sports - 5h -
Darian DeVries set to depart WVU, leaving for head coach position at Indiana
Mar. 18—MORGANTOWN — For a third consecutive season, WVU athletic director Wren Baker will be conducting a head coaching search for the men's basketball program. Darian DeVries, who spent just one ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Indiana hires Darian DeVries: What to know about Hoosiers' new basketball coach
Indiana hired West Virginia's Darian DeVries as its next men's basketball coach, replacing Mike Woodson.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Mind Your Banners: IU hires West Virginia's Darian DeVries
Zach Osterman and Mike Niziolek jump into the live podcast engine to discuss Indiana's decision to tap West Virginia coach Darian DeVries as the Hoosiers' 31st men's basketball coach. Zach and Mike ...Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
March Madness 2025: Louisville fan removed from arena after throwing water bottle onto court during loss to Creighton
Creighton coach Doug McDermott said he "felt a splash" from the water bottle when it landed in front of their bench.Yahoo Sports - 5m -
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves joining LeBron on sideline with injuries when Lakers host Bucks
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are sitting out with right ankle sprains when the Lakers host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night in Los Angeles' sixth game in eight days. The Lakers announced the ...Yahoo Sports - 5m -
March Madness 2025: No. 5 Clemson narrowly misses tying infamous NCAA tournament record in first half vs. No. 12 McNeese
The Tigers really, really struggled offensively.Yahoo Sports - 6m -
Greece vs Scotland LIVE: Team news and line-ups from Nations League relegation play-off
The first leg takes place in Athens before Scotland host the return fixture at HampdenYahoo Sports - 1h -
Carson Spiers becomes Reds fifth starter and Andrew Abbott will go on the injured list
Carson Spiers will enter the season as the Cincinnati Reds' fifth starter and Andrew Abbott will go on the injured list, manager Terry Francona announced Thursday. Spiers has been impressive in ...Yahoo Sports - 6m
More in Sports
-
2025 March Madness TV schedule, announcers: How to watch NCAA Tournament, tipoff times, TV channels, bracket
The complete television and streaming schedule for how to watch March Madness 2025 through the Final FourCBS Sports - 4m -
2025 NCAA Tournament bracket: College basketball scores, March Madness TV schedule, streaming, where to watch
Follow the Road to the Final Four all month long with an updating bracket and TV scheduleCBS Sports - 5m -
March Madness 2025: Louisville fan removed from arena after throwing water bottle onto court during loss to Creighton
Creighton coach Doug McDermott said he "felt a splash" from the water bottle when it landed in front of their bench.Yahoo Sports - 5m -
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves joining LeBron on sideline with injuries when Lakers host Bucks
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are sitting out with right ankle sprains when the Lakers host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night in Los Angeles' sixth game in eight days. The Lakers announced the ...Yahoo Sports - 5m -
March Madness 2025: No. 5 Clemson narrowly misses tying infamous NCAA tournament record in first half vs. No. 12 McNeese
The Tigers really, really struggled offensively.Yahoo Sports - 6m