WVU, West Virginia Full of Young Assistant Coaches on Rise

Neal Brown knows he has a the strong coaching staff behind him. And just like last year, multiple WVU coaches are being recognized on a national list that honors the top young assistants in the country.

Per 247 Sports “30 Under 30” list of the top young coaches and rising stars, WVU tight ends coach Blaine Stewart and quarterback coach Tyler Allen both made the cut. West Virginia native and Tulsa wide receivers coach Ryan Switzer also made the list.

🚨🚨 College football's top young coaches and rising stars: The eighth iteration of 247Sports' 30Under30.

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Allen, 28, replaced Sean Reagan who departed the Mountaineers to take over as offensive coordinator at Troy. After starting his coaching career as an offensive student assistant in 2016, Allen eventually joined West Virginia to serve under Brown in 2022. He initially worked in an analyst role before his recent promoted. Allen’s close relationship with Garrett Greene helped trigger Brown to move him up the ranks into the quarterback coach role.

Asti: WVU’s Decision to Promote Tyler Allen to QB Coach Makes Tons of Sense

Stewart, 29,  the son of the late former WVU head coach, joined the West Virginia staff following a long tenure working his way up the ranks with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. He just finished his second season with the Steelers as assistant wide receivers coach. Prior to that title, Stewart served two seasons as a coaching assistant before being promoted.

The Morgantown, W.Va. native played wide receiver at the University of Charleston (W. Va.) in 2016 and 2017, after beginning his collegiate career at James Madison University (2013-15).

While speaking with the media after spring practice, tight end Treylan Davis was asked about what he’s now noticing from Stewart in comparison to how he was at this point last year. At the start of spring ball in 2023, Stewart was barely settled in as a Morgantown resident again – he was hired less than two months prior on Jan. 20. But now in 2024, Davis can tell Stewart feels more comfortable as a leader of a position room.

WVU TE Praises Blaine Stewart as Coach: ‘He’s Earned Our Respect’

“I think he’s grown so much confidence wise. Last year he brought it up a few times, this is his first time being a leader of an actual position, like a unit and how he was super excited for the opportunity. And this year that’s showing. He’s enjoying it every day,” said Davis about Stewart.

As for Switzer, while some Mountaineer fans were hoping he would land on the WVU staff prior to the 2023 season, Brown decided to bring in former graduate assistant Bilal Marshall, who was recognized on this same list last year and has since aged off of it, instead. Switzer was then eventually hired by Tulsa.

After growing up in Charleston, W.Va., Switzer played collegiately at the University of North Carolina and wound up with the Steelers after being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Switzer played 25 games for Pittsburgh from 2018-19, bringing back 38 punts for 281 yards. As a wideout, he worked mostly out of the slot and later joined the Cleveland Browns, but didn’t see as much playing time there as he did in black and gold.

He retired from professional football last July, announcing earlier that month that he had surgery on his ankle. He was placed on injured reserve in each of his final two seasons with the Browns.

After retiring, he helped out at WVU’s training camp prior to the start of the 2022 college football season. There was some speculation among the fanbase that he should be considered as a candidate for WVU’s previously opened WR coaching position.

Switzer fueled that fire, when he tweeted “ready for it” in response to a fan suggesting he get the role.