Mar. 24—MORGANTOWN — A search that began with a Zoom call before a formal meeting last week in Omaha, Neb. led WVU athletic director Wren Baker to Darian DeVries as the Mountaineers’ next men’s basketball coach.

DeVries, who has spent the last six seasons at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, agreed to a five-year contract with the Mountaineers on Sunday, just three days after the Cougars were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Washington State.

“Wren got his guy, ” a source told The Dominion Post. “Darian was at the top of his list.”

The school announced Sunday night DeVries has signed a five-year deal with the Mountaineers, good through the 2028-29 season, which was also what he was signed through at Drake, after signing an extension there in 2021.

WVU officials did not say how much DeVries new contract was worth, but he was averaging $627, 437 per season at Drake, according to published reports.

“I’m honored to lead this historic program which has an outstanding tradition and passionate fanbase, ” DeVries said in a released statement. “Gamedays in the WVU Coliseum are legendary, and the incredible support for Mountaineer Basketball is known nationwide. I look forward to building on the success of the program.

DeVries, 48, came to Drake in 2018, which was his first job as a head coach after spending 17 seasons as an assistant at Creighton.

In his six seasons at Drake, the Bulldogs won at least 20 games every season and have qualified for the NCAA tournament in three of the last four seasons. Drake finished 28-7 this season and won the Missouri Valley tournament with an 84-80 victory against Indiana State. Drake has not advanced out of the first round of the NCAA tournament under DeVries.

DeVries and his family are expected to be introduced Thursday in Morgantown.

According to sources, Baker first met with DeVries on a Zoom call last week, before traveling to Omaha for a more formal meeting.