Is WVU Assistant Coach Headed Back to His Alma Mater?

Th end of the college football regular season often means a reshuffling of coaches around the country. And contrary to what most predicted for WVU, the West Virginia coaching staff has stayed intact after an 8-4 (6-3) season. But it now appears one high ranking assistant coach keeps popping up as a candidate for one open position.

Prominent college football reporter Bruce Feldman is now throwing out the name of WVU defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley around as a candidate to be the next head coach at Troy. The Troy job became open when John Sumrall, who was hired in 2021 over Lesley, left to take over the Tulane program. Sumrall’s exit continues the trend of coaches pivoting success with the Trojans to an opportunity at a bigger school.

Of course, that’s how Lesley got to West Virginia in the first place. Neal Brown brought Lesley with him to Morgantown when he jumped from Troy to being head coach at an historic program like the Mountaineers. Lesley would then be eventually promoted to defensive coordinator to replace the departing Vic Kenning.

Lesley’s connection to Toy goes way beyond his last coaching stop before WVU. He played at Troy from 2000 to 2004 and then started his coaching career there as a grad assistant in 2006.

So now not only did West Virginia’s 2023 season prove enough to the WVU brass to allow Brown to stick around, but it may have caught the eye of Troy as well. Lesley led a WVU defense that finished ranked fifth in the Big 12 after coming off an extremely rough 2022 season. Despite hiccups along the way, Lesley also managed to keep the defense afloat in the midst of dealing with injuries to several key players.

WVU Defense at Top of Big 12 in Important Category After Struggling in 2022

Jordan Lesley is far from the only name attached to the Troy opening, but if his alma mater does call, it’s safe to assume it would be difficult for the West Virginia coordinator to say no, especially when it involves a chance to be a head coach.

If Lesley does leave, where will the Mountaineers turn to replace him and lead the defense? Will WVU promote from within like they did when Lesley assumed the role or look elsewhere?