Wren Baker has spent his time at West Virginia making an impression in all the ways that matter, but the biggest one might be the simplest: he knows how to bring money in.
WVU Athletics said it has blown past its previous fundraising record, pulling in $111 million in philanthropic support. That number dwarfs the old mark of $38 million and comes as the department continues to build out a financial base that Baker says is moving fast. Earlier this spring, he said WVU’s budget had climbed past $150 million, which he described as “roughly 50% growth from where we were three years ago.”
The boost in fundraising has been tied in part to a record-setting year for the Mountaineer Athletic Club, which reached 7,934 members. Baker pointed to the wide range of support behind the surge.
“The numbers speak for themselves, but what stands out most is the number of people who chose to support WVU Athletics,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “Whether through a major gift, annual giving, season tickets or one of our new initiatives, every investment strengthens our ability to support student-athletes and move this department forward. We're incredibly grateful for that commitment.”
Corporate partnerships also played a major role. WVU cited deals with Hope Gas, which has naming rights for the Coliseum, and Antero Resources, which has a jersey patch deal, along with other partners as key pieces in the financial jump. Those annual payments, the department said, will keep helping West Virginia athletics moving forward.
“College athletics requires us to think differently about how we generate revenue and support our programs,” Baker said. “The support we received this year from our donors, fans and corporate partners puts us in a stronger position moving forward. We're thankful for their confidence in WVU Athletics, and we're committed to being good stewards of that investment.”
WVU also announced $20.7 million in ticket revenue for FY26, the first time in school history the program has topped $20 million in back-to-back years.
In Other News...
WVU's Left Tackle Battle Is Taking A Surprising Turn
Early fall camp has already started to clarify the shape of West Virginias offensive line, and Rick Tricketts latest media session offered a revealing snapshot of where things stand. He walked through the early progression up front, mentioning names such as Wes King, Kevin Brown, Nick Krahe and others while explaining how the group is sorting out its jobs and responsibilities as camp unfolds.
The most interesting wrinkle is the way the left tackle competition appears to be trending, with a true freshman emerging as a serious factor in the mix. Tricketts depth chart is still very much a work in progress, and the lineup he discussed reflects where players stood after the first stretch of fall practices rather than anything locked in for opening day. Still, the way the line is coming together suggests there is already a clearer pecking order than many expected, even if the final combination remains subject to change. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Wants West Virginia To Practice Like Modern Football
The push to reshape college footballs offseason has found a willing supporter in Morgantown, where Rich Rodriguez has made clear he likes the direction of the sports latest practice proposal. The FBS Oversight Committees plan would replace the current setup with two out-of-season practice windows and cap the total at 21 on-field sessions, while also trimming the preseason from 25 practices over a 27-day span to a shorter ramp-up.
For Rodriguez, the appeal is less about tradition than fit, with the West Virginia coach sounding comfortable with a system that looks a little more like the NFL. Coaches have long searched for a way to balance development, recovery and the grind of a long season, and this proposal is aimed at doing exactly that. Whether it gets traction is still a separate question, but it already has at least one prominent Mountaineer voice nodding in agreement. [Read more 🡒]