West Virginia’s head football coach, Rich Rodriguez, has set a new policy that’s making waves: he has banned his players from dancing on TikTok. The announcement came on March 10, just three months after Rodriguez was hired to lead the Mountaineers football program.
Rodriguez, 61, made it clear that while players are free to use TikTok, they are not allowed to post videos featuring dance routines. The coach explained that he is not completely prohibiting his athletes from using the popular social media platform, but he is drawing the line at certain types of content.
“They’re going to be on it, so I’m not banning them from it,” Rodriguez told reporters. “I’m just banning them from dancing on it. It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok, ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.”
Rodriguez added that while he understands the social media culture, he feels it is important for players to focus on their football careers. “I hope our focus can be on winning football games,” he said. “How about let’s win the football game and not worry about winning the TikTok?”
Not only is RichRod banning his players from dancing on TikTok (a string of words I never thought I’d write together) a potential employment issue but it also likely violates the athletes’ First Amendment rights. (@nealcternes) So… yeah. https://t.co/bkU9Dg6Rrn
— Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) March 12, 2025
The ban has sparked controversy, with critics on social media questioning the coach’s decision. Some have argued that the policy could restrict players’ ability to build their personal brands, which could be valuable for their future careers, both on and off the field.
“Rich Rod is antiquated, but he isn’t obtuse,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “So he delegitimizes a pathway for his athletes to carve out a brand for their own financial futures. He creates a chilling effect on self-determination and remains undoubtedly in control.”
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Others took issue with the ban on constitutional grounds, with one critic noting, “Not only is RichRod banning his players from dancing on TikTok (a string of words I never thought I’d write together) a potential employment issue, but it also likely violates the athletes’ First Amendment rights.”
Despite the backlash, Rodriguez has made it clear that his main priority is football. He wants his players to concentrate on improving their game rather than keeping up with the latest social media trends. His stance also reflects a broader debate over the role of social media in the lives of college athletes, especially as platforms like TikTok have become key tools for building personal brands and attracting sponsorship deals.
Rodriguez’s policy stands in contrast to the growing presence of college athletes on TikTok. Players like Travis Hunter, a star at the University of Colorado, have gained significant followings on the platform, with Hunter amassing 1.9 million followers as of March 2025. In one viral video from June 2024, Hunter was seen dancing to a song by GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion, which garnered 12.9 million views.
Despite his active presence on social media, Hunter’s career has continued to thrive. In December 2024, he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy, awarded annually to the best college football player in the country. His success raises questions about whether social media activity is truly a distraction or if it can be an asset to athletes who are able to balance their online presence with their athletic performance.
Just cut to the root of this: Control.
Rich Rod is antiquated, but he isn’t obtuse.
So he delegitimizes a pathway for his athletes to carve out a brand for their own financial futures.
He creates a chilling effect on self-determination and remains undoubtedly in control. https://t.co/npoQdBAV8x
— Brad Friedman (@BradFriedman713) March 12, 2025
Rodriguez, who is a native of West Virginia, has a long history with the Mountaineers. He served as the team’s head coach from 2001 to 2007, helping to establish the program’s prominence. After a brief tenure at the University of Michigan, Rodriguez returned to coaching at the University of Arizona, where he spent several years before returning to West Virginia in 2025.
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“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University,” Rodriguez said in a statement when he was hired in December. “My family and I are filled with gratitude to lead the Mountaineer football program again and look forward to working with the many supporters, fans, and friends to build the best football program in America! Take Me Home!”
While the TikTok ban has raised eyebrows, it’s clear that Rodriguez is eager to make his mark in his second stint at West Virginia. Whether or not his social media policy will help or hinder the program’s growth remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Coach Rodriguez is setting strict boundaries as he aims to establish a disciplined culture for his players.
