JACKSONVILLE – For the second time in the last week, Jacksonville State football head coach Rich Rodriguez had to deal with speculation that he was moving on to another job.

On Tuesday, Rodriguez told the media at a press conference before the Conference USA title game that he had not been contacted by any schools when asked about speculation that he was taking another job. On Friday, after the Gamecocks’ 52-12 win over Western Kentucky, Rodriguez once again had to deal with speculation after rumors surfaced online that he would be applying for the West Virginia job.

“I don’t know anything, this report is probably a rumor. I don’t know anything about that. My focus is on these guys and Jax State and that will continue to be the case,” Rodriguez said. “If there are rumors of a coaching job, it’s probably because his players and coaches are doing pretty well. If I’m considered for a job, it’s because these guys and their teammates are doing really well.”

Rodriguez was then asked directly if he would interview with West Virginia next week. He said he has no plans other than to spend time with his family before preparing for a bowl game again.

“This week is just around the corner, no. I don’t have any interviews. All I have planned is that tomorrow I will have a great day with wife Rita and the kids as well as Roxie and Rambo. A great Sunday watching a little movie.” “And then on Monday we start preparing for this great bowl game that we’ll be at in a few weeks,” Rodriguez said.

Some of the speculation stems from the fact that Rodriguez’s alma mater and first FBS head coaching job in West Virginia has become vacant. Rodriguez coached there from 2001 to 2007 and was a student assistant there in 1985 and coached outside linebackers there in 1989. He won big with the Mountaineers, with six seasons of eight or more wins and three seasons of ten wins ending his tenure.

He left West Virginia in 2007 for Michigan after the Mountaineers were one game away from a BCS National Championship appearance but lost to rival Pitt. He was eventually released from Michigan and ended up in Arizona. After being fired there, he was the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and Louisiana Monroe before coming to Jacksonville State.

Rodriguez has posted a 26-10 record since taking over the Gamecocks, including a 17-8 record at the FBS level. He led them to an unofficial ASUN title in 2022, but they were ineligible due to the transition, and a Conference USA title in 2024, as they hosted the conference title game.

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Below is the full quote from Tuesday, when Rodriguez addressed the speculation and talked about how when the speculation comes up, it’s usually a good thing because it means you’ve won.

“I guess it’s better to have someone calling you than not. Normally they don’t call you unless you have a little bit of success, but I haven’t had a call from any school and right now I’m totally focused on that.” There’s a lot of rumors and speculation this week and this game, but social media contribute to their being more widespread than is actually the case. We’re excited to see where we are. I’m talking about our staff and our “The players have been very focused all year and this is our 13th game, so myself included, I’m going to make sure we’re highly focused this week too “Rodriguez said on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared in the Gadsden Times: Jacksonville State football’s Rich Rodriguez addresses WVU speculation