West Virginia University Men's Basketball

The Hodge File Personal Information Birthday July 15 Hometown Dallas, Texas Education Paris JC, 1999-2001 Texas A&M-Commerce, 2001-2003 (Bachelor's) Wife Shelly Children Emery, Reed Coaching History 2003-05 Texas A&M-Commerce - Assistant Coach 2005-06 Paris Junior College - Assistant Coach 2006-09 Paris JC - Head Coach 2009-11 Midland - Head Coach 2011-12 Southern Miss - Assistant Coach 2012-16 Colorado State - Assistant Coach 2016-17 Arkansas State - Associate Head Coach 2017-23 North Texas - Associate Head Coach 2023-25 North Texas - Head Coach 2025-Present West Virginia - Head Coach Ross Hodge, who has won 80% of his games as a head coach and is considered one of the nation’s top defensive masterminds, was named the 24th head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia University, Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced on March 26, 2025. “Ross Hodge is a proven winner and leader who has demonstrated success at every stop of his career,” Baker said. “He has won more than 80% of his games as a head coach while establishing himself as one of the best defensive minds in college basketball. His teams play with toughness and grit and Mountaineer Nation will love the passion his players have for the game. More importantly, Ross is an incredible person and family man. His wife, Shelly, along with their children, Emery and Reed, will be great assets to our community and state. Please join me in welcoming the Hodge Family to Almost Heaven!” Hodge spent the last ei

Alex Mergner was hired as Director of Men's Basketball Operations on coach Ross Hodge's first staff at WVU in the summer of 2025. Mergner, a native of Milfor...

Andre Shaw was hired as an assistant coach in the spring of 2025 on Ross Hodge's first staff at West Virginia. Shaw, a native of New York City, spent the last four seasons on the men’s basketball staff at North Texas, including the last two as an assistant coach. Shaw has 12 years of coaching experience. “Andre is a high character person who will be involved in many areas of our program,” Hodge said. “He develops great relationships with our student-athletes and impacts them on and off the floor. Andre has East Coast ties being a native New Yorker and also does a tremendous job with player development.” This past season at North Texas, the Mean Green won 27 games and advanced to the semifinals of the NIT. The Mean Green ranked third in the country in scoring defense at 60.1 points per game, 1.5 points behind first-place Houston. UNT had the AAC’s second-most efficient offense and second-most efficient defense. UNT’s 27 wins were the second-most single season wins in school history and the 14 league victories were tied for the third-most league wins in school history. North Texas had five players earn all-conference honors UNT won 19 games in 2023-24 and reached the second round of the NIT. The 10 league wins and .555 league winning percentage were both the best by a first-year UNT men’s basketball staff. Shaw recruited some of North Texas’ top performers and helped mentor guard Jason Edwards and Atin Wright to first-team all-conference honors. UNT won 46 games in Shaw’s two s

Ben Murray joined the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in August 2023 and is currently serving as deputy athletics director/chief development officer. As deputy athletics director/chief development officer, Murray provides oversight to the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) and the WVU Ticket Office and is a member of the senior executive team in athletics and the WVU Foundation. He also serves as sports administrator for football, men's basketball and men's golf. Murray returned to Morgantown from Nebraska, where he spent two years (2021-23) as the Huskers' senior associate athletics director for development, leading all fundraising initiatives with additional oversight of ticket operations. Murray previously spent time at West Virginia from 2010-21, starting as a major gifts officer, then associate athletics director before ending his tenure as the senior associate athletics director and executive director of the MAC. Prior to his time at Nebraska and WVU, Murray was the director of athletics development at Old Dominion from 2006-10. He coordinated, planned and administered the Old Dominion Athletics Foundation annual giving program. Murray started his professional career in August 2003 at James Madison as a development associate in the JMU Duke Club. He also spent time at UNLV in 2005 working with the Rebel Athletic Fund. Murray graduated from Kansas in 2001 with a degree in sports management and earned a master's in sports administration from Kansas in 2003. An El

As West Virginia University's Associate Athletics Director for Communications, Bryan Messerly manages the day-to-day responsibilities of the WVU Athletics Communications Office. Messerly directs, plans and implements WVU's media relations and publicity through social media and news media for WVU's intercollegiate athletic program. He is the primary communications contact for the Mountaineer men's basketball and golf teams. Messerly is in his 32nd year with WVU's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. He is in his 26th season serving as the men's basketball publicist and 19th year of directing the WVU Athletics Communications Office. In his 25 years with the men's basketball team, the Mountaineers have made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including two NCAA Elite Eight appearances, seven NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, the 2010 NCAA Final Four and captured the 2010 Big East Championship title. During that time, WVU has appeared in four National Invitation Tournaments, including an NIT title in 2007. WVU has had 36 basketball players earn all-conference honors during Messerly's tenure, including 12 first-team selections (Big East and Big 12). Messerly has coordinated the promotion of six basketball All-Americans: In 2006, Kevin Pittsnogle became WVU's first men's basketball All-American since 1972. Da'Sean Butler earned All-America honors in 2010, Kevin Jones did so in 2012, Juwan Staten in 2015, Jevon Carter in 2018 and Derek Culver in 2021. Messerly has also promoted four first

Jase Herl was hired as an assistant coach on head coach Ross Hodge's first staff at WVU in April 2025. Herl, a native of Goodland, Kansas, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at North Texas. Herl has 15 years of coaching experience, including a period as the interim head coach at Colorado State. “Jase is the complete package when it comes to coaching basketball,” Hodge said. “He has a great feel for people and the game of basketball. He impacts all areas of our program, and I am thrilled to have him in Morgantown.” This past season at North Texas, the Mean Green won 27 games and advanced to the semifinals of the NIT. The Mean Green ranked third in the country in scoring defense at 60.1 points per game, 1.5 points behind first-place Houston. UNT had the AAC’s second-most efficient offense and second-most efficient defense. UNT’s 27 wins were the second-most single season wins in school history and the 14 league victories were tied for the third-most league wins in school history. North Texas had five players earn all-conference honors. UNT won 19 games in his first season in 2023-24 and reached the second round of the NIT. The 10 league wins and .555 league winning percentage were both the best by a first-year UNT men’s basketball staff. Herl recruited some of North Texas’ top performers and helped mentor guard Jason Edwards and Atin Wright to first-team all-conference honors. UNT won 46 games in Herl’s two seasons in Denton. “I am extremely blessed to be at West

Johnny Estelle was hired as an assistant coach on Ross Hodge's first staff in the spring of 2025. Estelle, a native of Waco, Texas, has nearly 30 years of coaching experience, including 14 years as a head coach and the last two seasons as an assistant coach at North Texas. “Johnny’s impact will be felt all throughout the program,” Hodge said. “He is intentional and has a unique ability to develop impactful relationships that last. He has been inducted into two separate hall of fames, which speaks directly to his ability as a basketball coach and his influence as a person.” This past season at North Texas, the Mean Green won 27 games and advanced to the semifinals of the NIT. The Mean Green ranked third in the country in scoring defense at 60.1 points per game, 1.5 points behind first-place Houston. UNT had the AAC’s second-most efficient offense and second-most efficient defense. UNT’s 27 wins were the second-most single season wins in school history and the 14 league victories were tied for the third-most league wins in school history. North Texas had five players earn all-conference honors. UNT won 19 games in his first season in 2023-24 and reached the second round of the NIT. The 10 league wins and .555 league winning percentage were both the best by a first-year UNT men’s basketball staff. Estelle recruited some of North Texas’ top performers and helped mentor guard Jason Edwards and Atin Wright to first-team all-conference honors. UNT won 46 games in Estelle’s two seaso

Kyle Keesler is the Assistant Athletics Director of Basketball Operations and Olympic Sports Equipment Operations for WVU Athletics. Keesler joined the WVU Athletics staff in 2015 as assistant equipment manager and was elevated to equipment manager in June 2019. He assumed his current position in 2025. Prior to his full-time stint at WVU, Keesler served as the head clubhouse manager for the West Virginia Black Bears, the short-season A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. While in that capacity, he handled day-to-day operations including daily transportation for players and staff, ordering team meals, and issuing officially licensed game day and workout gear. Additionally, he handled laundry for both the visiting and home teams. Keesler served as the head women’s basketball manager for WVU women’s basketball for five seasons. He handled daily practice and game operations and assisted with office duties. He traveled with the team and helped organize equipment, uniforms and other needs for road contests. He assisted the graduate assistant with mail outs, data entry and recruiting visits. Keesler served as the Mountaineers’ equipment room liaison helping issue gear, laundry and other needs. A native of Grantsville, West Virginia, Keesler and his wife, Judy, have a daughter, Myla, and two sons, Kolson and Kaleb.

Lucy Mariani joined the Mountaineer student-athlete development staff as a football academic counselor in 2021, and currently works in the WVU Coliseum advis...

Mathew Donello was named Assistant Athletics Director, Head Trainer for Men's Basketball in July 2025. Donello came to WVU from North Texas, where he served as the Associate Athletic Trainer for men's basketball and cheer from 2022-25. Donello served as Assistant Athletic Trainer at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado, from 2020-22. While there, he worked with the baseball, women's basketball, men's soccer, men's and women's swimming & diving and triathlon teams. Donello was an assistant athletic trainer at Liberty Hill High School in Liberty Hill, Texas, from 2017-20. Donello earned a bachelor's degree in athletic training from Colorado Mesa in 2015 and a master's degree in sport administration in May 2017 from Midwestern State, where served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for men's basketball.

Mike Randle was hired as Director of Recruiting on coach Ross Hodge's first staff at WVU in April 2025. Randle, a native of Houston, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at North Texas. Randle has 11 years of coaching experience. “Mike is one of the best up and coming young coaches in America,” Hodge said. “He is an elite relationship builder and has made impactful connections nationally. Mike is a tireless worker and pours his heart into mentoring young men.” This past season at North Texas, the Mean Green won 27 games and advanced to the semifinals of the NIT. The Mean Green ranked third in the country in scoring defense at 60.1 points per game, 1.5 points behind first-place Houston. UNT had the AAC’s second-most efficient offense and second-most efficient defense. UNT’s 27 wins were the second-most single season wins in school history and the 14 league victories were tied for the third-most league wins in school history. North Texas had five players earn all-conference honors UNT won 19 games in his first season in 2023-24 and reached the second round of the NIT. The 10 league wins and .555 league winning percentage were both the best by a first-year UNT men’s basketball staff. Randle recruited some of North Texas’ top performers and helped mentor guard Jason Edwards and Atin Wright to first-team all-conference honors. UNT won 46 games in Randle’s two seasons in Denton. “I’m humbled and honored to be joining the West Virginia University basketball family,” Rand

Phil Forte was hired as an assistant coach on head coach Ross Hodge's first staff at WVU in April 2025. Forte, a native of Flower Mound, Texas, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at North Texas. Forte has eight seasons of Division I coaching experience. “Phil is one of the best young coaches in the country,” Hodge said. “The work ethic and character that helped him be a great player in the Big 12 has carried into his coaching career. He has a great understanding of how to help our players to get better on and off the floor. We are happy to have Phil and Madison in Morgantown.” This past season at North Texas, the Mean Green won 27 games and advanced to the semifinals of the NIT. The Mean Green ranked third in the country in scoring defense at 60.1 points per game, 1.5 points behind first-place Houston. UNT had the AAC’s second-most efficient offense and second-most efficient defense. UNT’s 27 wins were the second-most single season wins in school history and the 14 league victories were tied for the third-most league wins in school history. UNT won 19 games in his first season in 2023-24 and reached the second round of the NIT. The 10 league wins and .555 league winning percentage were both the best by a first-year UNT men’s basketball staff. Forte recruited some of North Texas’ top performers and helped mentor guard Jason Edwards and Atin Wright to first-team all-conference honors. UNT won 46 games in Forte’s two seasons in Denton. “I’m excited to get to work h

Sean McClurg was hired as Director of Video, Scouting and Analytics on Ross Hodge's staff at WVU in April 2025. McClurg, a native of Wayne, New Jersey, spent...

Yusuf Ali was hired in the fall of 2025 as an assistant coach on Ross Hodge's first staff at West Virginia. Ali, a native of Toronto, Canada, comes to WVU from Arizona State, where he served as an assistant coach for Bobby Hurley this past season. Ali played a pivotal role in recruiting at Arizona State. “We are excited to announce the addition of Yusuf to our coaching staff,” Hodge said. “Yusuf has a unique ability to connect with people. He has great relationships both internationally and stateside. Yusuf also brings with him Big 12 experience and will be a valuable member of our program.” Prior to Arizona State, Ali served as an assistant coach at Simon Fraser University. While there, Simon Fraser earned wins over No. 1-seeded Saint Martin’s, Western Washington and local rival, UBC, in a Buchanan Cup victory, securing a spot in the playoffs. Notably, all of his graduates signed professional contracts in the offseason. Prior to Simon Fraser, Ali co-founded and served as the head coach of the Toronto Basketball Academy and DeepEnd Training from 2018-21. His team posted a record of 32-6 during his two years as head coach from 2019-21. Renowned for his focus on player development, Ali has mentored and coached some of Canada’s top basketball talents, many of whom have gone on to play in the NCAA and professional leagues around the world. As a former athlete, Ali was a standout player in U-Sports Basketball, representing the Ryerson Rams and achieving a national championship wit