West Virginia
WVU Board of Governors Faces a Reckoning – WV MetroNews
The West Virginia University Board of Governors (BOG) has had a tough stretch lately. It shows. Few observers would describe the group as a cohesive team.
The first public crack appeared in February, when the board voted 15-2 to name “Candidate A” as its choice to succeed E. Gordon Gee. That candidate, now publicly known as Dr. Michael Benson, failed to win unanimous support. Bray Cary and Steve Ruby voted no.
Unanimity isn’t required – and often isn’t healthy – but the division only offered a hint of what was coming.
By May 23, Bray Cary openly challenged the integrity of the search process, claiming that Benson’s selection was effectively made behind closed doors.
“Our chairman, Rick Pill, testified before a legislative committee in March that no votes were taken and no decisions were made during the executive sessions of the presidential search,” Cary said. “That statement wasn’t true based on how we selected the president in February.”
That same afternoon, Cary refused to participate in executive session. His fellow board members responded swiftly and forcefully.
“The proper process was followed in the hiring of the 27th president of West Virginia University,” said a joint statement from Chair Rick Pill, Vice Chair Patrice Harris, and Secretary Bob Reynolds. “Claims otherwise are false, inflammatory, and only serve to detract from the important groundwork being laid for the future of the state’s flagship university.
“The comments you reference are from a disgruntled BOG member who, candidly, had backed another candidate.”
That candidate? House Speaker Roger Hanshaw.
MetroNews’ Brad McElhinny reported regarding the 15-2 presidential vote, “discussions in an earlier closed session revealed a much closer split, with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw getting significant support. Sources indicated last week’s vote for BOG chairman reflected that.”
Later, fresh allegations surfaced – this time directed at Cary – suggesting a possible failure to disclose a conflict of interest presumably with Hanshaw.
“If a member of the [search] committee had a current or prior business relationship with a prospect or candidate and did not proactively disclose it, that would be troubling and should be reviewed,” said Patrice Harris, co-founder and CEO of eMed.
The latest development: last week’s election of Rusty Hutson, Co-Founder and CEO of Diversified Energy, as the new Board chair by a vote of 9-6.
Looking ahead, three board members are nearing the end of their terms; Cary, Pill and Alan Larrick. Filling those seats – by reappointment or new appointment – falls to Governor Patrick Morrisey.
From the outside, WVU’s Board is not what management guru Peter Drucker once described as a “tennis doubles team” – an ideal in which each member adjusts to the strengths and weaknesses of their partner and adapts to the evolving game. In Drucker’s 1990s Wall Street Journal piece, he argued such teams fuel real innovation. The WVU BOG is far from that model.
But the stakes couldn’t be higher. The landscape of college athletics is shifting dramatically. Enrollment is declining. Budget pressures are mounting. The university must adapt or risk falling further behind.
Fair or not, Hutson now shoulders responsibility for reshaping the institution’s governing board or making it work. Dr. Benson, while accomplished, is new to WVU. His success hinges on the Board’s willingness to support his vision. That, in turn, depends on Hutson’s ability to unify the board and move past internal squabbles.
Hutson has the credentials. Leading a large public company to success requires decisiveness, vision, and grit. But WVU’s governance comes with a twist: Hutson doesn’t control all the variables. He can’t change the board composition if a member crosses the line of constructive contrarian to destructive detractor.
That’s where Benson’s voice must emerge soon and strong. Like the CEO of a publicly traded firm, he must have the discretion to help shape the board as he enters. That includes working with Hutson and Governor Morrisey to fill or re-appoint upcoming vacancies with members committed to the institution’s future – not tied to old feuds – and the freedom, with the Governor’s backing, to make any board changes he deems necessary, in consultation with Hutson.
Absent the change of buy in or restructuring – probably both – the dysfunction will likely persist. And if that happens, West Virginia University – our flagship, our pride – will pay the price.
That cannot be allowed. Not now. Not ever.
Editor’s Note: Meadows is a WVU graduate.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history, compiled by the West Virginia Humanities Council from its online encyclopedia, e-WV.
April 19, 1896: Writer Melville Davisson Post was born in Harrison County. His best-known works are the Randolph Mason series, published in three volumes, and the more successful collection Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries.
April 19, 1902: Author Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon. She wrote a number of children’s books, including Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which won the 1956 Newbery Award.
April 20, 1823: Gen. Jesse Lee Reno was born in Wheeling. He graduated from West Point in 1846 with another cadet from western Virginia, Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Reno was the highest-ranking officer from present West Virginia killed in the Civil War.
April 20, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that in 60 days, West Virginia would become a state. The occasion was marked 100 years later during the state’s Centennial celebration with a special ceremonial session of the West Virginia Legislature on April 20, 1963, in Wheeling.
April 20, 1909: Fiddler Melvin Wine was born near Burnsville in Braxton County. A favorite of old-time music enthusiasts nationally, he was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest recognition given to a folk artist in the United States.
April 20, 1939: Poet Irene McKinney was born in Belington, Barbour County. Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed her state poet laureate in 1993, and she served in that capacity until her death in 2012.
April 21, 1908: Musician Phoeba Cottrell Parsons was born in Calhoun County. Parsons’ traditional clawhammer banjo style, unaccompanied ballad singing, riddles and storytelling have influenced countless younger musicians.
April 21, 1936: President Franklin Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Forest. The West Virginia portion of the forest includes about 19,000 acres in Monroe County.
April 22, 1908: Marshall “Little Sleepy” Glenn was born in Elkins. Glenn coached basketball at West Virginia University from 1934 to 1938 and football from 1937 to 1940. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
April 22, 1948: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as the longtime host and artistic director of the Mountain Stage radio program.
April 22, 2003: Activist Judy Bonds, a Raleigh County native, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight against mountaintop removal mining. Her efforts inspired thousands and turned a local West Virginia issue into a national cause.
April 23, 1857: Andrew S. Rowan was born in Gap Mills, Monroe County. Rowan, a military officer, was chosen as the messenger when President William McKinley wanted to send a message to Cuban Gen. Calixto Garcia during the Spanish-American War. The 1899 pamphlet A Message to Garcia made the incident famous.
April 24, 1865: McNeill’s Rangers surrendered to Union troops at New Creek — now Keyser. The Confederate guerrilla force probably never numbered more than 100 men at any time but managed to inflict regular damage on Union operations.
April 25, 1863: In what became known as the Jones-Imboden Raid, about 1,500 Confederate soldiers under Gen. William “Grumble” Jones advanced through Greenland Gap, a deep pass through New Creek Mountain in present Grant County. The Confederates encountered 87 Union soldiers who held off several assaults before finally surrendering.
April 25, 1923: Union leader Arnold Ray Miller was born at Leewood on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. In December 1972, he defeated Tony Boyle to become president of the United Mine Workers and served until 1979.
e-WV is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the council at 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301, call 304-346-8500 or visit wvencyclopedia.org.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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