Wren Baker Looking for ‘Integrity, Leadership’ in WVU’s Next Football Coach

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Wren Baker offered few football specifics when asked what he’s looking for in WVU’s next head coach, but did talk about the kind of character he wants the Mountaineers’ next headman to have.

“It is important that we have a leader and not just a coach,” Baker said Tuesday. “Somebody who’s going to make sure academics and life enrichment are still important.

“(We want) someone with integrity. I feel like that’s a non-negotiable.”

Baker said WVU has already cast a wide net in trying to find the replacement for former head coach Neal Brown, who was fired on Sunday. The search committee is considering candidates from several different backgrounds around college football.

“We’re not limited to only head coaches or only coordinators,” Baker said. “We want a proven leader, somebody who can understand and embrace West Virginia, somebody that understands roster construction in this ever-changing world of college athletics.”

Previously in the searches for WVU’s women’s and men’s basketball coaches, Baker stressed that he placed a high value on head coaching experience.

“I do value head coaching experience,” Baker said. “Every person that sits in these chairs has had their own path and that’s led into the way you see things. Your history and your personal experience affect the way that you view something.” 

That isn’t necessarily the case for football, however.

“What’s different in football is, when you have somebody that’s been a coordinator, they really kind of are the head coach for their side of the ball,” Baker explained. “I think it’s really important to dig in on whatever side that they weren’t involved in, what’s their plan, what’s their knowledge, what’s their experience and how do they envision it fitting together.”

Baker also said he’s not concerned about getting a coach with a specific offensive or defensive background.

“Over my 20 years of doing this, you know what I think inspires fans? Winning,” Baker said. “Rather than saying I want somebody who’s known for shutdown defense, somebody who’s known for off-the-charts charisma, somebody who’s known for scoring a whole bunch of points, I want somebody who can set with me and our search committee and convince us they can build a program that can win and sustain winning.”

For a related story, Wren Baker details his conversation with Pat McAfee regarding WVU’s search.