Just about two months ago, Rich Rodriguez accepted the job leading West Virginia football for the second time in his career. Around the same time WVU legend Pat White -- who played three seasons under Rodriguez in Morgantown -- announced his interest potentially returning to his alma mater on a new coaching staff. Now, the man widely considered as the greatest quarterback in Mountaineers history is coming home.
After rumors abounded early Wednesday on the Locked On West Virginia podcast that the former WVU quarterback was in the football building in Morgantown and likely returning to the program in some capacity, West Virginia made it official late Wednesday afternoon that White was joining the staff as the Assistant Quarterbacks Coach and Assistant to the Head Coach. White will assist Quarterbacks Coach Rhett Rodriguez, who was yet to make it to middle school football when his father coached White to a pair of BCS bowl appearances in the 2000's.
Welcome HOME, 5⃣‼️
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) February 12, 2025
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"It's really special to welcome Pat White back to Morgantown as a member of our football coaching staff," Rodriguez said. "He has been involved in some of the biggest wins in program history, and he will be a great presence in our quarterback room. Pat and I have been through so much together, and I am really proud of the quality of coach and mentor to young players that he has become."
"It would be nice to be back in them mountains, man. Especially with my guy Rich. Morgantown is a second home. I love coaching the game of football," White said on the Pacman Jones Show in December. "And to have an opportunity to work with the guy that helped me make a name for myself and get in there and allow another guy similar to myself to build a name for himself, and finally get that national championship Morgantown been waiting on…For me, it would be an honor to be a part of his staff.”
While the return of Rodriguez to WVU is most aptly compared to the Parable of The Prodigal Son, Pat White can easily be describes as West Virginia football's favorite son.
White ranks second all-time in FBS for rushing yards by a quarterback with 4,480 yards. He went 35-8 under center for the Mountaineers, helping the team win four consecutive bowl games -- the 2006 Sugar Bowl, 2007 Gator Bowl, 2008 Fiesta Bowl and 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl. He went on the play professionally in the NFL and CFL.
White have seven years of football coaching experience at the professional and collegiate level. His most recent stint on the sidelines came as an offensive assistant coach with the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL from 2022-2023. He spent 2024 as an independent athlete/skill trainer and coach.
Before his NFL stint, he served as Pass Game Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Campbell (2022), Interim Offensive Coordinator at Quarterbacks Coach at Alabama State (2021), Running Backs Coach at USF (2020) and Quarterbacks Coach at Alcorn State (2018-19).