MORGANTOWN — Defensive line coach William Green doesn’t go by Billy or Will. He goes by William, or maybe sometimes Willie, but most of the time he goes by coach Green.

“Either one of those is fine,” Green said. “Depends on where I’m at.”

Green has been all over the place, but most of the time it’s alongside Rich Rodriguez. He played defensive line at Florida and was a part of the stacked 2008 National Championship team. Then, he went to training camp for the Cleveland Browns. After the Browns and some Arena Football, Green started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Jacksonville State and Florida.

In 2021, Green finally met Rodriguez as the defensive line coach at Louisiana-Monroe, and then Rodriguez hired him at Jacksonville State, and when he moved to Morgantown, Green went with him.

“I was excited,” Green said. “Rods been exciting… It’s been a joy. Continue to make a run at it.”

Green’s in charge of the defensive line this fall, which Rodriguez called out for tango dancing with the offensive line on Tuesday. Despite Rodriguez’s doubts, Green said the line has done a “really good” job so far this fall.

“They’ve been working really hard trying to just get down the techniques that we’re trying to work on now, putting in the work this summer and doing a good job so far at camp,” Green said. “Our progress is right now, we’ve still got a way to go, but I think they’re doing a good job.”

Green is working in defensive coordinator Zac Alley’s defense, which has a lot of blitz packages and different formations. Green is familiar with Alley’s defense, working with him at Louisiana-Monroe and Jacksonville State.

Most of his line haven’t played under Alley’s defense, so part of Green’s job is teaching it.

“Guys gotta know all of it, and it takes a lot of teaching,” Green said. “It’s my job to make it simple for the guys.”

Green has some players who have adjusted quickly and are emerging as leaders in the room. Green had an immediate connection with WVU returner Hammond Russell IV when he first arrived and was announced as the defensive line coach.

“Ham is doing a real good job this year,” Green said. “When I got here, he was the first guy I talked to. He’s doing a good job of being a leader for us. Being somebody the guys can look to do things. He’s stepping up in that regard. I don’t know what he was like when he was younger, but he’s been awesome since I’ve been here.”

Green also mentioned how Eddie Vesterinen and Nate Gaberial are two players who he’s been pleased with.

Like the rest of the team, Green is still in the evaluation phase and is integrating the hard edge within his players. And like Rodriguez said, Green is looking for players who can help WVU win.

“You’re looking for the best player you possibly can to help you win the football game,” Green said. “I think sometimes you get locked in on I gotta have whatever, but I try to get the best players we can to play as hard as we possibly can.”