CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The West Virginia men’s basketball team will soon have its fourth head coach in as many years.
That’s just one more than J.J. Quinerly has had in her time with the Mountaineers’ women’s program.
“I sort of know how that situation goes,” she says with a smile, as 16th-ranked WVU prepared to face 12th-ranked North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament at 7 p.m. Monday.
Before the Norfolk Va. native was a threat to the WVU women’s record books, Quinerly was a freshman playing for Mike Carey, who retired at the end of that season.
That brought in Dawn Plitzuweit, who stayed in Morgantown for all of one season before taking over at Minnesota.
Plitzuweit’s move is very comparable to that of Darian DeVries, who left the WVU men’s team after one season to take over Indiana, setting up the current men’s opening.
Plitzuweit’s departure in 2023 opened the door for Mark Kellogg, who has led WVU to a combined 50 wins over Quinerly’s final two seasons.
Through all of that, Quinerly remained steadfast in her belief that WVU was the right place for her.
“I mean, I probably could have transferred to anywhere in the country I wanted,” she said. “I chose to stay here on my own terms. I didn’t have coaches begging me to stay, I chose that on my own.”
Not that it was an easy decision, and Quinerly said she understands the level of confusion and disappointment that the WVU men’s players are feeling after DeVries’ departure.
“For them, individually they all have to do what’s best for them,” Quinerly said. “Whether that’s transferring and trying to find someplace else to fit into or staying here and build off it.”
There are still raw emotions within Quinerly about the coaching changes. She admits there are still hard feelings about Plitzuweit leaving after one season.
The team found out while on a bus ride traveling back from the 2023 NCAA tournament in College Park, Md., and the news came from social media, not from Plitzuweit.
The WVU men’s roster has already taken a few hits since DeVries left. His son, Tucker, entered the transfer portal and will play at Indiana next season. Freshman guard Jonathan Powell has also entered his name into the portal.
Incoming freshman Kelvin Odih, a four-star recruit, has requested his release from his letter-of-intent and reopened his recruitment.
“As of now, with NIL and all the opportunities there are, it’s easier for athletes to want to go somewhere else and figure it out somewhere else,” Quinerly said. “Staying is probably the hardest thing to do.”
Which is what makes Quinerly’s story rather unique. Three coaching changes and she stayed at WVU through all three of them.
“If we had a Mount Rushmore, J.J. Quinerly should be on that list,” Kellogg said. “I think she’s solidifying herself with the steals and the points and the loyalty and staying for four years in an era where that’s very unlikely, especially through three coaching changes.
“That’s normally kids transferring three times, not staying through three coaches.”
