West Virginia ended a 12-day coaching search when it officially announced Rich Rodriguez's return last week. Rodriguez, who coached the Mountaineers from 2001-07, takes the job in Morgantown 17 years after he left for Michigan.

Rodriguez, 61, who was named coach after spending three seasons at Jacksonville State, said he has grown both as a person and a coach throughout his long career, “and in particular in the 17 years since I made the mistake of leaving.

After admitting his 2007 departure for Michigan was a mistake, Rich Rodriguez is back at West Virginia, ready to write a new chapter in his coaching career.

Nearly 17 years to the date of his departure for Michigan, Rich Rodriguez returns home. Friday afternoon, the Grant Town, West Virginia native was officially introduced as the next head football coach of the Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum.