Rio Grande Declines to Explain Decision to Remove Quincy Wilson as Head Coach

In a somewhat surprising turn of events, former Mountaineer Quincy Wilson is out as head coach at Rio Grande. Only five months after hiring Wilson to lead the launch of Rio Grande football, the university announced its decision to fire Wilson earlier this week.

Rio Athletics said it will not be providing further details about removing Wilson as head coach out “respect the privacy of all parties involved” as part of a press release with the news.

Wilson was just named head coach in June, a hiring that came two months after Rio announced the rebirth of their football program.

“Our focus remains on supporting our athletes and continuing to move forward with the launch of football next fall,” Rio President Ryan Smith in a statement.

Fellow WVU football alum Mark Thurston will now replace Wilson as Rio’s head coach after initially being hired to serve as defensive coordinator.

Thurston was a three-year letter-winner during his time as a WVU linebacker.

Thurston’s coaching experience includes coaching at Iowa State University, the University of Toledo, Norfolk State University and Lake Erie College, as well as at the high school level at Miami Norland High School. Thurston also spent a season as a coach with the semi-pro West Virginia Wham of the Mid-Ohio Valley League.

Prior to joining Rio, Wilson was the running backs coach at Fairmont State in 2023.

A Weirton, W.Va. native, Wilson stared as a Mountaineer from 1999 to 2003. He was then drafted in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Wilson was a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals during his NFL career. Wilson was inducted into the West Virginia Hall of Fame in 2018.

Quincy Wilson appeared on a past episode of WVSN’s fan podcast Country Roads Webcast.

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