WVU Football
Jacksonville State Coach Confirms He’s Following Rich Rodriguez to WVU
As more news continues to come out concerning Rich Rodriguez’s staff at WVU, a coach who will be following him from Jacksonville State confirmed his addition as part of a farewell message on Sunday.
“Two of the best seasons of my life! Thank you Jax st. For welcoming my family and for all of the memories you gave us! Was an absolute honor and privilege to coach the ‘23/‘24 Jax St. Slots and TEs! Excited for our next chapter in Almost Heaven West Virginia!,” said Michael Nysewander on Sunday. He also added #HardEdge to the end of his post.
Michael Nysewander confirms he's following Rich Rodriguez to join the WVU staff in his farewell message to Jacksonville State. Let's just say he's experienced a lot of winning during his career as both a player and coach. https://t.co/JmV5Sy8OEI
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) December 29, 2024
Nysewander served as the tight ends and inside receivers coach at Jacksonville State. Even though it’s believed Blaine Stewart is being retained, Nysewander is expected to continue in a similar capacity to his role with the Gamecocks while working under Rodriguez again at WVU.
He joined Rodriguez at Jacksonville State in 2023 after a three-year stint at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin as a senior analyst.
Below includes information from Nysewander’s page on the Jacksonville State website:
A native of Brimingham, Ala., Nysewander is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama and received his degree in communication studies. While with the Crimson Tide, he was an H-Back/Tight End and helped head coach Nick Saban’s program to three National Championships and SEC Championships. Kiffin was his offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014-16.
Wearing the number 46 on his Alabama jersey, he earned the nickname “Highway 46” for his knack to open lanes for running backs like Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry during his time in Tuscaloosa.
Following his college playing career, Nysewander signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie free agent.
He started his coaching career at Samford, where he was the Bulldogs’ running backs coach before joining Kiffin’s support staff at Florida Atlantic in 2017. He would later follow Kiffin to Ole Miss.
For a related story, WVU HC Rich Rodriguez talks about hiring Zac Alley.
jackson five
December 29, 2024 at 11:33 pm
SO THE BIG QUESTION, WHERE WILL PAT WHITE FIT INTO THIS STAFF,, RR CERTAINLY SHOULD HIRE HIM,,, HE WOULD BE THE BEST DUEL THREAT QB COACH THAT RR COULD FIND,, HE WAS EXCELLANT AT WVU,,, QB-ED 4 WINNING BOWL GAMES, AND WITH SLATON HE PUT RR IN POSITION TO TAKETHE MICHIGAN,,,,,,,,IT WOULD A TERRIBLE SIN IF RR DID NOT HIRE PAT WHITE FOR HIS COACHING STAFF,,, IT WOULD REALLY PISS OFF THE MOUNTAINEER NATION, AS IT IS LOOKING FORWARD TO WHITE BEING ON THE STAFF…..RR, DON’T SCREWTHIS UP AGAIN.
Nazmo King
December 30, 2024 at 2:53 pm
I don’t care who RR hires for his staff – that is his decision (not mine or any misguided fan’s). Zac Alley was truly a great hire for the staff and I expect that will bring many returns in the form of portal players added and quality of play next season.
LJS
January 1, 2025 at 3:16 pm
Fans might think they know best who RR should hire. However, just because Pat White was a QB at WVU, I believe he was let go from his other coaching jobs,band,not because a HC was replaced. So, RR will decide who is best suited to coach for him, not the fans.