SEC COACH GETS A NEW JOB
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REPORT: WVU expected to hire former SEC D-line coach as new pass rushers coach
February 23, 2026 9:19 pm by Spencer Ripchik/ The Dominion Post
MORGANTOWN— West Virginia football might’ve found its new pass rushers coach, who will be its third in the span of under two months. Rich Rodriguez is expected to hire former Arkansas defensive line coach Deke Adams as his new defensive ends coach, according to CBS Sports.
The hiring of Adams comes just a little over a week after Georgia hired WVU’s pass rusher specialist, Larry Knight, to be its new outside linebackers coach. Knight was hired in place of long-time Mountaineers bandit coach Jeff Casteel, who recently retired.
Adams spent the past four seasons coaching the defensive line for the Razorbacks. In his first season, he helped the defense break the school record with 42 sacks in 2022. The D-line contributed to 22 of those sacks, which was led by Jordan Domineck. In 2023, Adams coached star pass rusher Landon Jackson. Jackson had 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and 44 tackles under Adams. His 13.5 sacks ranked sixth in the SEC and his 6.5 sacks were 12th. Jackson had another strong year in 2024 and had 6.5 sacks again, 9.5 tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries. He was recently drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills, which was the highest Arkansas defensive lineman drafted since 2007.
This past season, the entire Arkansas program was flipped upside down. After multiple losses to start the season, the athletic department fired head coach Sam Pittman after six seasons. Adams was fired shortly after, along with the defensive coordinator, Travis Williams, and co-DC Marcus Woodson. Arkansas hired Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield to be its next head coach.
Prior to Arkansas, Adams had a lot of one-year stops coaching the defensive line, which included Florida International (2021), Ole Miss in 2020, which was just one year after Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator, and then Mississippi State (2019). He spent two years at North Carolina and two at South Carolina, where he coached No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Adams had multiple other lower-level coaching jobs and has been coaching defense since 1997.
Adams played football at Southern Miss and was a part of the group named the “Nasty Bunch” as a linebacker, helping his case for WVU’s defensive end job. He finished his college career in 1994 with 76 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.
This should be the last addition for Rodriguez’s coaching staff for the 2026 season. He’s had his work cut out for him this offseason, losing his running backs and two pass rusher coaches. Rodriguez also hired a new offensive line coach after not extending Jack Bicknell Jr. after the season. He’s also made a couple of smaller additions to the staff, too, hoping to greatly improve on the 4-8 record from last season.
WVU’s pass rush had a hot start to the 2025 season. But then, the Mountaineers went four straight games without a sack. WVU picked up the pace to end the season and finished top 5 in the Big 12. A lot of production isn’t returning, though, so WVU went to the transfer portal to add some experience. The Mountaineers have some returners who didn’t play a lot in 2025 and should step up. WVU also has some talented freshmen who could be ones to watch for years to come.
Author: Spencer Ripchik/ The Dominion Post
February 23, 2026 9:19 pm by Spencer Ripchik/ The Dominion Post
MORGANTOWN— West Virginia football might’ve found its new pass rushers coach, who will be its third in the span of under two months. Rich Rodriguez is expected to hire former Arkansas defensive line coach Deke Adams as his new defensive ends coach, according to CBS Sports.
The hiring of Adams comes just a little over a week after Georgia hired WVU’s pass rusher specialist, Larry Knight, to be its new outside linebackers coach. Knight was hired in place of long-time Mountaineers bandit coach Jeff Casteel, who recently retired.
Adams spent the past four seasons coaching the defensive line for the Razorbacks. In his first season, he helped the defense break the school record with 42 sacks in 2022. The D-line contributed to 22 of those sacks, which was led by Jordan Domineck. In 2023, Adams coached star pass rusher Landon Jackson. Jackson had 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and 44 tackles under Adams. His 13.5 sacks ranked sixth in the SEC and his 6.5 sacks were 12th. Jackson had another strong year in 2024 and had 6.5 sacks again, 9.5 tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries. He was recently drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills, which was the highest Arkansas defensive lineman drafted since 2007.
This past season, the entire Arkansas program was flipped upside down. After multiple losses to start the season, the athletic department fired head coach Sam Pittman after six seasons. Adams was fired shortly after, along with the defensive coordinator, Travis Williams, and co-DC Marcus Woodson. Arkansas hired Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield to be its next head coach.
Prior to Arkansas, Adams had a lot of one-year stops coaching the defensive line, which included Florida International (2021), Ole Miss in 2020, which was just one year after Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator, and then Mississippi State (2019). He spent two years at North Carolina and two at South Carolina, where he coached No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Adams had multiple other lower-level coaching jobs and has been coaching defense since 1997.
Adams played football at Southern Miss and was a part of the group named the “Nasty Bunch” as a linebacker, helping his case for WVU’s defensive end job. He finished his college career in 1994 with 76 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.
This should be the last addition for Rodriguez’s coaching staff for the 2026 season. He’s had his work cut out for him this offseason, losing his running backs and two pass rusher coaches. Rodriguez also hired a new offensive line coach after not extending Jack Bicknell Jr. after the season. He’s also made a couple of smaller additions to the staff, too, hoping to greatly improve on the 4-8 record from last season.
WVU’s pass rush had a hot start to the 2025 season. But then, the Mountaineers went four straight games without a sack. WVU picked up the pace to end the season and finished top 5 in the Big 12. A lot of production isn’t returning, though, so WVU went to the transfer portal to add some experience. The Mountaineers have some returners who didn’t play a lot in 2025 and should step up. WVU also has some talented freshmen who could be ones to watch for years to come.
Author: Spencer Ripchik/ The Dominion Post
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