A West Virginia University (WVU) assistant football coach, once identified by ESPN as a potential star, has been arrested and charged with strangulation. Noel Devine, 38, was booked into a Greenwood, West Virginia facility on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. and is currently being held on $40,000 bail, according to online records.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest have not yet been disclosed. Representatives from the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Devine does not have an attorney listed in online records.
In response to the arrest, WVU has placed 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 stated. "Any future decision on his status will be determined after more information becomes available."
Devine, a product of North Fort Myers High School in Florida, was once considered one of the nation's top football recruits. ESPN had previously labeled him as football's 'next' big talent at the running back position.
Despite accumulating 4,315 rushing yards over four seasons at WVU, Devine was not selected in the NFL Draft. He later attended the Philadelphia Eagles training camp but ultimately played for four seasons in the Canadian Football League.
Devine returned to WVU in January 2025, taking on the role of assistant running backs coach and offensive analyst.