West Virginia football has one of the most football-crazed fan bases in the country. With that in mind, athletic director Wren Baker made the difficult decision to fire head football coach Neal Brown after a 6-6 season. Brown's program only won more than six games once in his six-year tenure as the West Virginia football head coach and now Baker will perform an exhaustive search to make the Mountaineers competitive in the Big 12. West Virginia football last enjoyed a 10-win season under Dana Holgorsen in 2016 and last played in a New Year's Day bowl under Holgorsen in 2011. Now, they'll look for an innovative leader who can help get into the College Football Playoff picture. There are already several notable candidates popping up in the West Virginia football coaching search. If you love the Mountaineers, or just want to know who will call the shots for West Virginia football in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at EerSports, the 247Sports affiliate that covers West Virginia.
The EerSports insiders are providing on-the-ground updates on every development surrounding Neal's departure and the future of the West Virginia football program, including insights from Chris Anderson and Mike Casazza, who have deep-rooted ties inside and around the West Virginia community. Get all the inside scoop on the football program, plus VIP intel on WVU football, basketball, recruiting and more. Plus get access to the Country Roads Confidential premium message board where you can connect with other West Virginia fans and insiders.
And right now, EerSports is offering 75% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at EerSports already has a list out of several potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to EerSports now to see them all.
Top West Virginia football coach candidates
One name the staff has identified as a potential target is Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez. Outside of an undefeated season in 1922, West Virginia football was never more successful than it was in Rich Rodriguez's tenure as the head coach from 2001-2007. Rodriguez guided the program to 33 wins over a three-year span and was instrumental in a pair of BCS bowl wins (Bill Stewart won the 2008 Fiesta Bowl as an interim coach after Rodriguez left for Michigan).
Rodriguez had a tough time in Michigan but did go on to lead Arizona to the Fiesta Bowl after a 10-win season in 2014 and is 26-10 in his three years leading the Gamecocks. In addition to spending six years as the WVU head coach, Rodriguez is a West Virginia alum who played defensive back for the Mountaineers from 1981-1984. He'd undoubtedly be interested in another crack at a Power Five job and nobody knows Morgantown better. See more candidates at EerSports.
How to get insider WVU coaching staff search updates
The rest of the list includes a former NFL head coach along with multiple shocking names who have won big in college football. You can only see who they are at EerSports.
Who are the top candidates in the West Virginia football coaching search, and which shocking names could be in the mix? Go to EerSports to see their West Virginia coaching hot board and more, all from a team of West Virginia insiders, and find out.
And reminder, EerSports is offering 75% off an annual VIP membership as a coaching search special, so subscribe now before it's too late.
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