Darian DeVries Leaves After One Year, But the Basement Gear Stays

When Ross Hodge took over as the new head coach of West Virginia basketball, he knew he was stepping into a big role.

What he didn’t expect was just how literally he’d be stepping into it, by moving into the same house former head coach Darian DeVries called home during his one-year stint in Morgantown.

Hodge recently revealed that he purchased DeVries’ home, and what he found in the basement caught him off guard.

“It was nice to be able to move in, and yeah, their basement was already as much as a team pro shop for West Virginia down there,” Hodge said. “They had stuff I didn’t even know you could get West Virginia emblems on, they had them on there.”

It wasn’t just a room, it was a full-on display of Mountaineer pride. From custom gear to WVU-branded décor, the space looked like it belonged in the campus bookstore. Hodge was quick to give credit to DeVries and his family for what they put into the property.

“Coach DeVries’ wife, they did a lot to that property,” Hodge continued. “They put a lot into it. They put a lot of money and a lot of time. I know it was disappointing for a lot of fans that he was only here a year, but I certainly didn’t get the feeling, I mean, like I said, I bought his house. I know what they did and what they put into it.”

Now, that basement is Hodge’s to make his own. And as he settles into his new role in Morgantown, the former North Texas associate head coach is inheriting more than just gear; he’s inheriting expectations, history, and a fanbase ready to rally behind a new era.