2018 Coaches Preview

Photo via WVU Athletics

Dana Holgorsen (Head Coach)

Holgorsen enters his eighth year as the head coach at West Virginia after spending the 2010 season as the offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State. In 2016, Holgorsen led the Mountaineers to its second 10-win season since 2011 and its first second-place finish in the Big XII. The 2017 season ended in disappointment with a three-game losing streak and a 7-6 (5-4) record, but there’s been more good than bad. Under Holgorsen’s guidance, West Virginia has had nine players selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft over the past six year and has finished below fifth place in the final conference standings only once.

After mounting concerns that the Mountaineers were unable to compete for a Big XII title during the 2012-2015 period, Holgorsen reinforced his job security by breaking away from off the pass-happy coaching tree that he came from. Although known for grooming some of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the Big XII, Holgorsen elected to run the football at a higher rate than more traditional Air Raid offenses. In 2015, Holgorsen boasted a top-15 run game, which was led by the Big XII’s leading rusher in Wendell Smallwood. In 2016, the trend continued as JUCO transfer Justin Crawford finished as the Big XII’s 3rd best rusher with 1,184 yards. Last season, the Mountaineers saw a slight dip in production in the run game, but with four capable backs still in the stable, there’ll be plenty of ground game in 2018.

Holgorsen currently has a career record of 53-37 (.589%).

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