Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
West Virginia Legends Embracing Roles on Mountaineer Football Staff
March 07, 2025 10:28 AM | Football
KANSAS CITY – Three of the greatest players in WVU football history are currently working on coach Rich Rodriguez's Mountaineer coaching staff.
They are quarterbacks Pat White and Rasheed Marshall and running back Noel Devine.
White has returned following a recent coaching stint with the Los Angeles Chargers to help with the Mountaineer quarterbacks, while Devine is back in Morgantown as an offensive analyst and helping with the running backs.
Marshall, a holdover from Neal Brown's staff, remains in his role as director of player relations.
Combined, these three accounted for nearly 13 miles in yardage during their fabulous college careers. Furthermore, they were responsible for one of the most successful periods in school history as the Mountaineers won 85 and lost just 30 from 2002-10.
On Thursday, Rodriguez discussed their significance to West Virginia's winning culture.
"Those guys are the ones who usually understand the tempo and the environment, I guess you would say, more than anyone because they did it," he explained. "I've been really blessed since I've been back of having former players come back, a whole bunch of them. Almost one or two every day.
"First off, they always embellish the stories," he joked. "They always make it seem like it was harder than it was. They're like, 'Yeah coach, you can't let them be soft. I remember when we did this and that.' I'm like, 'I probably yelled at you more than them.'"
He continued.
"But they do take great pride playing in the system, so having coaches that have been around us at least understand it. Every coach wants their team to play hard and no coach wants their team to be soft, so it isn't like we're outliers in that regard. It's just to what degree do you demand it? Right now, we've got to demand it all the time."
However, just because Pat and Noel were great players, that doesn't necessarily mean they will be great coaches.
The late Jerry West, one of the greatest players in NBA history, struggled as a professional coach despite having an incredible mind for the game. His Los Angeles Lakers players used to complain that West was so good as a player that he couldn't relate to less talented players and lacked the necessary patience to deal with them.
It was only when he became a general manager, a level above the everyday action, that he again thrived.
Rodriguez agrees with the notion that great players don't always make great coaches.
"Some coaches think the average players make really good coaches because they had to do all the extra stuff to be able to have success. I don't know if that's true," he said. "You will get immediate respect if you were a great player, of course, but you've got to know what you are talking about. You can yell or say whatever you want with the players, but they will know if you know what you are talking about. That's the key.
"One, we've got to know what the hell we're talking about and, two, players have got to see that we're getting them better than if they weren't around them," he added.
However, Rodriguez sees many positive qualities in White and Devine.
"They can really help their players get better at every position, and I really truly believe that," he said.
"They are fitting in great. They're listening. When I get on them, they're learning how to coach," he added. "Pat has got a little bit of experience coaching, and Noel has done some stuff too, but this is big-boy college football, and it's a great opportunity and a great responsibility for them to prove themselves and climb the ladder. They've got long careers ahead of them, and both are going to be great coaches."
Rodriguez also sees a bright future for Marshall in his administrative role.
"Then, we've got a guy like Rasheed Marshall. Rasheed has been here, and I'm fortunate that he was already here. He's a former player that does a great job with our guys off the field – not a good job, but a great job. I'm very fortunate to have those guys around," he said.
West Virginia concluded spring practice No. 5 inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility Thursday morning and will wrap up this week's work on Saturday.
No interviews are scheduled.
They are quarterbacks Pat White and Rasheed Marshall and running back Noel Devine.
White has returned following a recent coaching stint with the Los Angeles Chargers to help with the Mountaineer quarterbacks, while Devine is back in Morgantown as an offensive analyst and helping with the running backs.
Marshall, a holdover from Neal Brown's staff, remains in his role as director of player relations.
Combined, these three accounted for nearly 13 miles in yardage during their fabulous college careers. Furthermore, they were responsible for one of the most successful periods in school history as the Mountaineers won 85 and lost just 30 from 2002-10.
On Thursday, Rodriguez discussed their significance to West Virginia's winning culture.
"Those guys are the ones who usually understand the tempo and the environment, I guess you would say, more than anyone because they did it," he explained. "I've been really blessed since I've been back of having former players come back, a whole bunch of them. Almost one or two every day.
"First off, they always embellish the stories," he joked. "They always make it seem like it was harder than it was. They're like, 'Yeah coach, you can't let them be soft. I remember when we did this and that.' I'm like, 'I probably yelled at you more than them.'"
He continued.
"But they do take great pride playing in the system, so having coaches that have been around us at least understand it. Every coach wants their team to play hard and no coach wants their team to be soft, so it isn't like we're outliers in that regard. It's just to what degree do you demand it? Right now, we've got to demand it all the time."
However, just because Pat and Noel were great players, that doesn't necessarily mean they will be great coaches.
The late Jerry West, one of the greatest players in NBA history, struggled as a professional coach despite having an incredible mind for the game. His Los Angeles Lakers players used to complain that West was so good as a player that he couldn't relate to less talented players and lacked the necessary patience to deal with them.
It was only when he became a general manager, a level above the everyday action, that he again thrived.
Rodriguez agrees with the notion that great players don't always make great coaches.
"Some coaches think the average players make really good coaches because they had to do all the extra stuff to be able to have success. I don't know if that's true," he said. "You will get immediate respect if you were a great player, of course, but you've got to know what you are talking about. You can yell or say whatever you want with the players, but they will know if you know what you are talking about. That's the key.
"One, we've got to know what the hell we're talking about and, two, players have got to see that we're getting them better than if they weren't around them," he added.
However, Rodriguez sees many positive qualities in White and Devine.
"They can really help their players get better at every position, and I really truly believe that," he said.
"They are fitting in great. They're listening. When I get on them, they're learning how to coach," he added. "Pat has got a little bit of experience coaching, and Noel has done some stuff too, but this is big-boy college football, and it's a great opportunity and a great responsibility for them to prove themselves and climb the ladder. They've got long careers ahead of them, and both are going to be great coaches."
Rodriguez also sees a bright future for Marshall in his administrative role.
"Then, we've got a guy like Rasheed Marshall. Rasheed has been here, and I'm fortunate that he was already here. He's a former player that does a great job with our guys off the field – not a good job, but a great job. I'm very fortunate to have those guys around," he said.
West Virginia concluded spring practice No. 5 inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility Thursday morning and will wrap up this week's work on Saturday.
No interviews are scheduled.
Rich Rodriguez | Dec. 3
Wednesday, December 03
Reid Carrico | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Jeff Weimer | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Rich Rodriguez | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
