College coach once pegged by ESPN as football’s ‘next’ big star is arrested on shock strangulation charge

A West Virginia University (WVU) assistant football coach once touted as the sport’s next big star has been arrested on a shocking strangulation charge, according to the state’s corrections website.

Noel Devine, 38, was booked in a Greenwood, West Virginia lockup on Sunday at 12:45pm and is now being held on $40,000 bail, according to online records.

The circumstances of the arrest have not been revealed. Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office spokespeople did not immediately respond to The Daily Mail’s request for comment, and Devine does not currently have an attorney listed online. 

In response to the arrest, WVU has put Devine on indefinite leave. 

‘Upon receiving information of the arrest, I have immediately and indefinitely put Noel Devine on leave from the Mountaineer football coaching staff,’ WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement. ‘Any future decision on his status will be determined after more information becomes available.’ 

A product of Florida’s North Fort Myers High School, which produced NFL legend Deion Sanders years earlier, Devine was once among the top football recruits in the country. ESPN went so far as to label Devine football’s ‘next’ big talent at running back.

But despite gaining 4,315 rushing yards over four seasons with WVU, Devine went unselected in the NFL Draft. And although he got invited to Philadelphia Eagles training camp, he would ultimately settle for a four-year career in the Canadian Football League.

Devine ultimately returned to his alma mater in January of 2025 as the assistant running backs coach and offensive analyst. 

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