MORGANTOWN — A search that began with a Zoom call before a formal meeting last week in Omaha, Neb. led WVU athletic director Wren Baker to Darian DeVries as the Mountaineers’ next men’s basketball coach.
DeVries, who has spent the last six seasons at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, agreed to a five-year contract with the Mountaineers on Sunday, just three days after the Bulldogs were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Washington State.
“Wren got his guy,” a source told The Dominion Post. “Darian was at the top of his list.”
The school announced Sunday night DeVries has signed a five-year deal with the Mountaineers, good through the 2028-29 season, which was also what he was signed through at Drake, after signing an extension there in 2021.
WVU officials did not say how much DeVries’ new contract was worth, but he was averaging $627,437 per season at Drake, according to published reports.
“I’m honored to lead this historic program which has an outstanding tradition and passionate fanbase,” DeVries said in a released statement. “Gamedays in the WVU Coliseum are legendary, and the incredible support for Mountaineer Basketball is known nationwide. I look forward to building on the success of the program.
DeVries, 48, came to Drake in 2018, which was his first job as a head coach after spending 17 seasons as an assistant at Creighton.
In his six seasons at Drake, the Bulldogs won at least 20 games every season and have qualified for the NCAA tournament in three of the last four seasons. Drake finished 28-7 this season and won the Missouri Valley tournament with an 84-80 victory against Indiana State. Drake has not advanced out of the first round of the NCAA tournament under DeVries.
DeVries and his family are expected to be introduced Thursday in Morgantown.
According to sources, Baker first met with DeVries on a Zoom call last week, before traveling to Omaha for a more formal meeting.
Baker first extended an offer last Friday.
“Most details were agreed upon early on,” a source said. “I don’t want to say it was a done deal right away, but it was clear Darian was who Wren wanted to get.”
DeVries will replace Josh Eilert, who stood as the interim coach this season following the resignation of Bob Huggins last June.
“Coach DeVries is a phenomenal basketball coach and an even better person and possesses all the qualities we desired in the next leader of our men’s basketball program,” Baker said. “His teams play hard and smart and are efficient on both ends of the floor. He has proven to be a strong recruiter and developer of players but even more importantly, a leader with integrity who develops character in the young men he coaches.”
DeVries’ son Tucker was the Missouri Valley’s player of the year the last two seasons. He averaged 21.6 points per game and connected on 87 3-pointers this season. He’ll be a senior next season with one season of eligibility remaining. According to a report from Jeff Goodman late Sunday, Tucker plans to enroll at WVU and follow his father to Morgantown.
WVU finished with a school-record 23 losses this season under Eilert, while finishing last in the Big 12. The Mountaineers have finished last in the Big 12 in two of the last three seasons, while finishing eighth in 2022-23.
It’s also not clear how much roster rebuilding DeVries will have in front of him at WVU.
As of Sunday, no eligible WVU player has announced intentions of entering the transfer portal.
If that were to remain the case, the Mountaineers would have nine players on scholarship returning next season, meaning four open scholarships remain.
“I would like to thank President Gee and Wren Baker for extending me this wonderful opportunity,” DeVries said. “My family and I are honored and thrilled to be a part of Mountaineer Nation. We have heard so many great things about West Virginia and its people, and we can’t wait to get there.”
