BREAKING: Former West Virginia Coach Rich Rodriguez Makes Transformational Gift to Establish “Rich House” for Homeless Youth
**MORGANTOWN, W.Va.** – In a deeply personal act of philanthropy aimed squarely at his home state, former West Virginia University and current college football analyst **Rich Rodriguez** and his family have announced a landmark, seven-figure gift to establish a permanent housing and support center for homeless youth in North Central West Virginia. The facility, to be named **“Rich House,”** will be developed in partnership with the **West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness**.
Rodriguez, the West Virginia native who led the Mountaineer football program to historic heights from 2001-2007, is directing a significant portion of his personal earnings from his coaching career and current media role to address the urgent crisis of youth instability in the Mountain State. The announcement marks a profound and lasting reconnection with the community that launched his career.
“West Virginia is my heart, my home, and my family,” Rodriguez said in a statement released by the Coalition. “My career, wherever it took me, started with the opportunity and support I received here. ‘Rich House’ is about paying that forward. Every young person in this state deserves a safe foundation, a supportive team around them, and a real chance to build their future. This is about providing the stability that every child needs to thrive.”
The transformational gift will fund the purchase and renovation of a property in the Morgantown area. “Rich House” will be designed as a long-term transitional living facility for youth aged 16-24, moving far beyond emergency shelter. The program will offer comprehensive wraparound services, including on-site mental health counseling, educational and vocational training, life skills coaching, and mentorship, all within a structured and supportive residential environment.
“Coach Rodriguez’s vision is for a home that offers not just a roof, but roots,” said Zach Brown, Executive Director of the WV Coalition to End Homelessness. “This extraordinary generosity will allow us to create a nationally model program right here in West Virginia. ‘Rich House’ will be a place where young people can heal from trauma, continue their education, and gain the skills to live independently. This gift is a game-changer for our state’s most vulnerable youth.”
The announcement has been met with widespread gratitude and acclaim across West Virginia, including from Rodriguez’s former players and colleagues. Current WVU Head Coach **Neal Brown** praised the initiative, stating, “Rich’s legacy at West Virginia is significant on the field, but this gift defines a legacy that matters far more. It’s about lifting up West Virginians. We are proud to support this mission.”
Rodriguez’s gift also establishes a permanent endowment to ensure the home’s long-term operational sustainability. He has issued a public challenge to other former Mountaineer players, coaches, and West Virginia businesses to join him in supporting the endowment, aiming to create a lasting community-driven resource.
For a state often facing significant economic challenges, “Rich House” represents a beacon of hope and investment. It redefines Rich Rodriguez’s enduring connection to West Virginia, anchoring it not in past victories, but in a compassionate, tangible effort to secure a brighter future for its next generation.
