MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Rob Alsop, who played a significant role in the implementation of extensive academic and faculty cuts at West Virginia University prior to his resignation last year, has returned to the institution in the capacity of senior deputy athletic director.

The announcement of Alsop’s return was made discreetly, with his new position being listed in the university’s athletic directory earlier this month, without any formal release from the university itself.

Previously, Alsop held the position of vice president for strategic initiatives at WVU, where he was instrumental in articulating various proposals during important university meetings. At one particularly tumultuous meeting in September 2023, student protests accompanied the university’s Board of Governors as they voted to approve significant cuts to academics and faculty in response to a substantial budget deficit of $45 million.

After resigning from his vice president role in October, Alsop continued to serve as a special advisor to President Gordon Gee until January. Subsequently, he transitioned into the private sector, joining a law firm in February and working as a managing member of a company that focused on mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and navigating government relations. However, his time away from West Virginia University was relatively short-lived, totaling only ten months.

Alsop is not unfamiliar with the athletic department at WVU; he served briefly as interim athletic director after Shane Lyons was dismissed in 2022, equipping him with insights into the workings of the athletic program.