Chase Harler Identifies the Traits the Next WVU Head Coach Must Have
Monday morning, I reached out to a few former Mountaineer basketball players to get their take on the head coaching search at WVU. Kobe Johnson responded by voicing support for his former coach, Bob Huggins.
Meanwhile, fellow former guard Chase Harler got back to me with what type of coach the Mountaineers need to pursue rather than giving a name.
"I will speak more so about the characteristics of the coach I would want to see. Someone who truly*** understands how special this place is. Everyone says it- but WVU is the pro team in the state. One thing Huggs did a great job of doing was instilling that into our teams.
"We need someone with a “win now” mentality. With NIL, it can be done.
"Lastly, a coach who is out in the community. Someone who shows up to events with a smile on his face, because once the fans can start to relate to you and get to know you - the better the overall support."
WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker told reporters last week that the next coach doesn't have to be from West Virginia or have ties to the state, but must embrace everything that comes with being the head coach of the program.
“You have to have somebody that not only understands West Virginia, but can embrace being a face of not just WVU, but the state. You don’t get to come to WVU and just be a basketball coach, or a football coach, or an [athletic director], you’re an ambassador for the state. And if you can’t embrace that, then this is probably not a job for you."
