For a while, it looked like the Neal Brown hot seat talk that was the subject of message boards and radio shows throughout the Mountain State for nearly two years would blow over, but the West Virginia Mountaineers announced the firing of Brown on Sunday, Dec. 1 after a weird season that saw the Mountaineers still alive for the Big 12 Championship midway through Week 14.
Now, the Mountaineers have to start over in what is shaping up to be a busy coaching cycle. However, the West Virginia job might still be one of the better openings in college football. Who could the Mountaineers target to replace Brown?
Replacement Candidates for Neal Brown at West Virginia
I have mixed feelings about Brown’s departure from West Virginia. On one hand, the record is the record, and Brown wasn’t much better than .500 for a team that wants to compete with the best in the sport. On the other hand, Brown fielded consistently competitive teams and seemed like he was just a few players away at any given time.
West Virginia was probably right to move on, but that makes this next hire extremely important. If the Mountaineers mess up, it could be a very long time before they return to national prominence.
West Virginia is an attractive job for the right candidate. It’s not a place for everyone, but the Mountaineers have shown they can be competitive on a national scale and are the only Power 4 conference school in a state that’s crazy about football. The state of West Virginia isn’t exactly a recruiting hotbed, but it’s located not far from some areas oozing with high school talent.
While it’s a poorer state, the Name, Image, and Likeness infrastructure is there, and West Virginia can be competitive on that front.
I do think this job fits someone with ties to the area. There have been a lot of talented football coaches to come out of the Mountain State, and coaches who love the area tend to succeed. That’s not a requirement, but it might be a place to start.
Andy Kotelnicki (Penn State Offensive Coordinator)
Andy Kotelnicki is going to be a hot name in the coaching carousel this offseason, and West Virginia would be a landing spot that would make sense.
Kotelnicki has had success at every stop of his coaching career, and he’s revived a stalled Penn State Nittany Lions offense this season. He’s creative and he can recruit, bringing with him a fluid scheme that can be molded to his personnel.
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West Virginia can likely find a more experienced head coach, but if the Mountaineers prefer to go with a younger, schematic guru, Kotelnicki’s is a name to watch.
Rich Rodriguez (Jacksonville State Head Coach)
This would be a fascinating reunion. West Virginia hasn’t come close to its former glory under Rich Rodriguez, but he left under dubious circumstances in 2008, and there could still be some bad blood.
This wouldn’t be the case for a nostalgic hire from a team desperate to return to the glory days. Rodriguez is firing on all cylinders with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, and they’ll play for a Conference USA title next weekend.
Rodriguez’s run-first, up-tempo approach is still working to perfection. You can bet Rodriguez would bring long-time offensive line coach Rick Trickett. Rodriguez’s scheme would work perfectly in the Big 12 as long as West Virginia’s administration has no bad blood.
Warren Ruggiero (Wake Forest Offensive Coordinator)
Warren Ruggiero has only been a head coach once, boasting a 15-8 record with the Division II Glenville State Pioneers. That’s significant, given that multiple former Pioneers head coaches have also coached at West Virginia.
Ruggiero has spent the last 10 years with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, but many believe multiple names on that staff could be on the move, either as Dave Clawson retires or potentially moves to a new job. West Virginia prides itself on unique offensive schemes, and Ruggiero could either bring the slow mesh from his time with Clawson or a hybrid spread model. Either way, he’s well-respected in the industry.
Jon Sumrall (Tulane Head Coach)
Jon Sumrall will be the hottest name in the coaching cycle, but would West Virginia go with Neal brown’s former disciple?
Sumrall improved on Brown’s success with the Troy Trojans and then parlayed that into the Tulane Green Wave job. If he stays at Tulane, he will make them into power, but he could be looking to move up, and he’s coached and recruited near the Mountaineers’ recruiting grounds.
Barry Odom (UNLV Head Coach)
Barry Odom has resurrected his career after being fired by the Missouri Tigers five years ago. Ironically, he struggled to find a consistent offense with the Tigers, but now he coaches one of the best offenses in college football.
Of course, Odom has had plenty of help, but his willingness to adapt has the UNLV Rebels in the Mountain West Championship. Odom, if he wants to move, should have Power Five options this offseason and will be highly coveted. West Virginia, if it wants, should have staying power with some of the top guys.
Other Candidates To Replace Brown
- Brennan Marion, UNLV Rebels Offensive Coordinator
- Jason Candle, Toledo Rockets Head Coach
- Charles Huff, Marshall Thundering Herd Head Coach
- Dave Clawson, Wake Forest Demon Deacons Head Coach
- Jamey Chadwell, Liberty Flames Head Coach
- Freddie Kitchens, North Carolina Tar Heels Offensive Advisor
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