Rod West joined Shawn Clark's App State staff in February 2021 as cornerbacks coach.
A fast riser in the coaching profession, West was named to the 2021 American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 list. He added defensive passing game coordinator duties before the start of the 2022 season and coached a second All-America cornerback in 2023.
West had a pair of All-Sun Belt cornerbacks in 2023, as Tyrek Funderburk earned All-American recognition as a first-team All-Sun Belt performer with four interceptions, including two pick-six returns for touchdowns. Ethan Johnson, the other starting cornerback, was named a second-team All-Sun Belt selection by the league.
Those two players combined for 24 passes defended, while Trenton Alan Yowe and Omari Philyaw also came up with big interceptions during the season.
In 2024, cornerback was one of the deepest positions for the Mountaineers, with Jason Chambers posing a coverage grade of 76.5 that ranked No. No. 6 among starting Sun Belt cornerbacks. Chambers made a key fourth-quarter interception in the win against JMU, while fellow newcomer Seth Robertson made a critical interception in the fourth quarter of a road win against ECU. True freshman Nick Taylor was an important contributor, serving as the team’s only true freshman to play in more than one game.
Steven Jones Jr. was named a first-team All-American at cornerback under West’s watch in 2021, when Shaun Jolly joined Jones as a first-team All-Sun Belt selection. With injuries limiting App State’s depth at that position, Madison Cone also excelled while starting six of the last eight games at cornerback even though he began the season as a safety.
In 2021, App State ranked in the top 15 nationally with 15 interceptions, as Jones tied for the FBS lead with five during the regular season, including three pick-six touchdowns.
The following year, Jones also earned All-America honorable mention before receiving an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. App State newcomer Dexter Lawson Jr. made a team-high three interceptions before moving on to the CFL, and West prepared true freshmen such as Ethan Johnson to contribute at cornerback.
Before arriving in Boone, West spent the three previous three-plus seasons on staff with the Richmond Spiders, including his role as co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach leading up to Richmond's 2020 spring season.
In 2019, West served as the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, helping Richmond finish first in the Colonial Athletic Association in passing defense at 194.8 yards per game. Cornerback Daniel Jones was named to the CAA all-conference team after finishing third on the team with 84 tackles, including a team-high 52 solo tackles, and recording two interceptions and five pass breakups.
West spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as Richmond’s dimes coach and was also the co-special teams coordinator in 2018. The Spiders’ 2017 squad finished fifth in the CAA in passing defense at 197.7 yards per game.
He coached at Chattanooga from 2015-16, serving as the cornerbacks/dimes coach as well as recruiting coordinator. During his time with the Mocs, he mentored four All-Southern Conference honorees. Chattanooga led the SoCon in passing defense and ranked top two in the league in total defense in both seasons.
West began his coaching career in 2009 at NAIA school Kentucky Christian, where he worked with defensive backs and assisted with academics. He has also had stints as a graduate assistant for the Division II national runner-up Delta State (2010), defensive backs coach at Texas A&M-Commerce (2011-12) and defensive backs and special teams coach at Morehead State (2013-14).
A native of Selma, Ala., West was a four-year letterman from 2005-08 and a two-year starting defensive back at Southwestern Athletic Conference member Alabama State. He was a member of the Dean’s List his final three years and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2009.
He and his wife, Marcie, were married in 2013. They have one daughter, Maya, and one son, Major. Marcie was a three-time All-American volleyball player at the University of Florida and played in four NCAA Tournaments from 2004-07.
WEST AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2009: Kentucky Christian (Defensive backs)
2010: Delta State (Graduate assistant - Defensive backs)
2011-12: Texas A&M-Commerce (Defensive backs)
2013-14: Morehead State (Defensive backs/Special teams)
2015-16: Chattanooga (Cornerbacks & dimes/Recruiting coordinator)
2017: Richmond (Dimes)
2018: Richmond (Dimes/Co-Special teams coordinator)
2019: Richmond (Cornerbacks/Defensive passing game coordinator)
2020: Richmond (Cornerbacks/Co-Defensive coordinator)
2021: App State (Cornerbacks)
2022-24: App State (Cornerbacks/Defensive passing game coordinator)
Playing Experience
2005-08: Alabama State (DB)
Alma Mater: Alabama State, 2009
Hometown: Selma, Ala.
Birthdate: March 22, 1987
Wife: Marcie (Hampton)
Children: Maya, Major
Twitter: @CoachRodWest
