West Virginia Coach Noel Devine Arrested on Felony Strangulation Charge

West Virginia assistant football coach Noel Devine was arrested on Sunday and charged with felony strangulation, according to jail and court records. The 38-year-old was booked into the North Central Regional Jail at approximately 12:45 p.m. on September 14, 2026. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and his bail was set at $40,000. Following the arrest, West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez placed Devine on indefinite leave from the coaching staff. "Upon receiving information of the arrest, I have immediately and indefinitely put Noel Devine on leave from the Mountaineer football coaching staff," Rodriguez said in a statement. "Any future decision on his status will be determined after more information becomes available." Authorities have not released specific details about the alleged incident. The Monongalia County Sheriff's Office did not immediately provide additional information, and no attorney was listed for Devine in court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 23. Devine's arrest occurred one day after he was on the sideline for West Virginia's 52-7 victory over UT Martin, which improved the team's record to 2-0.