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WVU HC Neal Brown Releases Statement After Firing Jordan Lesley

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WVU Football Jordan Lesley at spring game

Following reports earlier in the day, West Virginia football head coach Neal Brown officially announced the firing of defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley via press release late Tuesday morning.

“I met with Coach Lesley this morning and informed him that we are making a change at the defensive coordinator position,” Brown said in a statement. “I’m very thankful for the investment Jordan and his family have made in West Virginia football.”

Lesley had been on Brown’s staff for eight years, including all six seasons at WVU and dating back to the 2016 season at Troy.

“Jordan has been a key part of my staff for almost a decade,” Brown said. “He is a good football coach and a great man. I know he will have much success moving forward, and we will do everything we can to help him on that journey.”

WVU’s defense under Lesley has regressed badly this season, contributing to the team’s disappointing 4-4 record (3-2 Big 12). In the Big 12, the Mountaineer defense is 14th in points per game (28.4), 13th in yards per game (382.5), 15th in passing yards per game (261) and last in opposing yards per attempt (9.3) and efficiency (162.0).

“These decisions are never easy, but I’m confident this change is in the best interest of our program and puts us in the best position to finish strong,” Brown said. Our players have a tremendous opportunity in front of them, and I know they will give their all for WVU.”

In the same press release, Brown also officially promoted assistant coach Jeff Koonz to interim defensive coordinator.

“Jeff Koonz will step up and serve as the defensive coordinator moving forward,” Brown said. “I know he and our entire staff will do everything they can to help us succeed.”

Koonz is in his fifth season at WVU, all as special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach. He will continue to serve as the special teams coordinator for the time being. Koonz has one year of coordinator experience as a co-defensive coordinator for Cincinnati in 2016.

The Mountaineers are currently on their second bye week of the season and will return to action to begin a favorable final four-game stretch at Cincinnati on Nov. 9.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. jackson five

    October 29, 2024 at 1:14 pm

    THANK GOODNESS, NOW THERE’S MORE ON THAT DEFENSIVE SIDE THAT NEEDS THE SAME MEDICINE,, S. BROWN, SHOULD ALSO SAY GOODBYE TO WVU FOOTBALL,,,THERE’S ALOT OF DEFENSIVE COACHES OUT THERE , ONE RIGHT NOW IN THE PROGRAM ,WHO WOULD FIT VERY WELL INTO THE WVU PROGRAM,, WVU DOESN’T HAVE ALOT OF MONEY TO PAY THEM IS THE BIG PROBLEM,, BUT ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN LESLEY,, HE THOUGHT HE WAS SET FOR LIFE, BEING BROWN’S BUDDY, BUT MY GUESS IS, BAKER STEPPED IN AND TOLD BROWN TO MAKE CHANGES NOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DEF. JUST ABOUT BLEW YET ANOTHER GAME AT ARIZONA,,, CHANGE IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT WAS A MUST,,,, THANK YOU MR BAKER, WE ALL KNOW BROWN WOULDNEVER FIRE HIS BUDDY , NONE OF THEM

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