MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Dana Holgorsen’s departure for Houston isn’t just unusual in that he is reversing the traditional coaching trajectory by leaving a program from a Power Five conference for one in the Group of Five. It’s also notable by West Virginia standards for its lack of acrimony.
Since Don Nehlen’s retirement in 2000, the Mountaineers have been unable to conduct a coaching search that can be considered traditional by any measure. Finally, that is no longer the case.
When replacing Nehlen, WVU had to find someone capable of filling the shoes of the most legendary figure in program history.