2018 Coaches Preview

Dana Holgorsen (Head Coach)

Holgorsen enters his eighth year as the head coach at West Virginia after spending the 2010 season as the offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State. In 2016, Holgorsen led the Mountaineers to its second 10-win season since 2011 and its first second-place finish in the Big XII. The 2017 season ended in disappointment with a three-game losing streak and a 7-6 (5-4) record, but there's been more good than bad. Under Holgorsen's guidance, West Virginia has had nine players selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft over the past six year and has finished below fifth place in the final conference standings only once.

After mounting concerns that the Mountaineers were unable to compete for a Big XII title during the 2012-2015 period, Holgorsen reinforced his job security by breaking away from off the pass-happy coaching tree that he came from. Although known for grooming some of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the Big XII, Holgorsen elected to run the football at a higher rate than more traditional Air Raid offenses. In 2015, Holgorsen boasted a top-15 run game, which was led by the Big XII’s leading rusher in Wendell Smallwood. In 2016, the trend continued as JUCO transfer Justin Crawford finished as the Big XII’s 3rd best rusher with 1,184 yards. Last season, the Mountaineers saw a slight dip in production in the run game, but with four capable backs still in the stable, there'll be plenty of ground game in 2018.

Holgorsen currently has a career record of 53-37 (.589%).

Tony Gibson (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers coach)

Gibson enters his fifth year as the defensive play-caller and has quickly turned the Mountaineers’ defense from a liability to a strength. West Virginia, once among the worst defenses in the conference, ranked first in the Big XII in scoring defense, total defense and opponent’s first downs in 2016. The famed 3-3-5 stack defense is a unique look for opponents, and Gibson has done a fine job of finding the right athletes for his system. The 2017 season was something of an anomaly, as the defense was 10th in the conference against the run and was in the bottom half of many other statistical categories. This season, Gibson returns the most starters (5) in three seasons; he'll look to piece together a defense that can complement the league's best offense for a chance at a Big 12 championship. Look for veterans Dravon Askew-Henry, David Long Jr., Toyous Avery and Reese Donahue to lead Gibson's "DAWGS".

Jake Spavital (Offensive Coordinator)

Spavital enters his 2nd season as West Virginia offensive coordinator under Dana Holgorsen. Since 2011, Dana Holgorsen has served as both a head coach and play-caller for the offense. Coach Spavital’s relationship with Holgorsen, however, led to the head coach “firing” himself as the coordinator and allowing Spavital to take full control of the offense last season. Spavital certainly fielded a high-octane offense in 2017, with wide receiver David Sills V leading the nation in touchdowns (18) and quarterback Will Grier finished 8th in passing touchdowns (34). One could argue that Grier may have ultimately led the country in TD's, had he not injured his hand diving for the pylon against Texas in Week 12. Under Spavital’s tutelage, Geno Smith, Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden, and Davis Webb were able to hear their names called during the NFL draft. West Virginia’s Will Grier has the opportunity to add his name to a talented list in 2018.

Joe Wickline (Offensive Line Coach)

Wickline has coached football longer than Tyron Carrier and Belk have been alive, so we should assume he knows what he's doing. In 2015, his first year in Morgantown, Holgorsen was comfortable enough with Wickline from their days together at Oklahoma State to name him as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Wickline has brought with him a wealth of Big XII football knowledge after stops at Oklahoma State, Texas and Baylor. With his help, the offensive line has been able to pave the way for backs like Justin Crawford, Rushel Shell and now Kennedy McKoy. Wickline enters the 2018 season with possibly the most experience and depth he's had at the line of scrimmage since his arrival to Morgantown. Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports named starting left tackle Yodny Cajuste among the "freaks" of college football.

Tyron Carrier (Wide Receivers Coach)

Carrier has completed only two years as a full-time coach but is seen as a great hire by Holgorsen. In 2016, both Dakiel Shorts and Shelton Gibson earned All-Big XII honors and now play professionally in the NFL thanks to Carrier’s guidance. Carrier was once a receiver himself at Houston where he played for Holgorsen during his coaching stint with the Cougars. He helped turn David Sills V from a former quarterback into a Biletnikoff Award finalist, which shows you his potential as a coach. Junior Gary Jennings led the Big 12 conference in receptions (97) and was one of two Mountaineers with 1,000+ receiving yards. The 2018 season should be a big year for Carrier and his group, as he has two guys (Jennings and Sills) both capable of going high in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Dan Gerberry (Tight Ends/Fullbacks Coach)

Gerberry enters his first season as a full-time assistant at West Virginia as he spent the previous season as a senior football analyst. Since his promotion, he has been tasked with helping develop the tight ends which are looking to be a integral new part of the offense in 2018.

Marquel Blackwell (Running backs Coach)

The only "newcomer" to the West Virginia coaching staff is running backs coach Marquel Blackwell. Blackwell enters his first season at WVU after leaving Toledo, where he had a productive two seasons. Former runningbacks coach, Tony Dews has moved onto the NFL and has joined the Tennessee Titans. Blackwell knows a thing or two about NFL talent, as he helped pave the path for current Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, whom he coached at Toledo. Blackwell has already made his presence known on the recruiting trail and appears to have four capable backs that he can utilize this upcoming season.

Bruce Tall (Defensive Line Coach)

Despite serving as an assistant coach for Michigan in 2010 and at Charlotte from 2011-2014, coach Tall has been a staple in Morgantown for the Mountaineers. From 2003-2007, Tall coached safeties under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia and returned to the Mountaineers in 2015 under Holgorsen. During his 36-year coaching career, coach Tall has helped produce 36 All-Conference players. He certainly has a challenge this season, with the need to replace two starters, and might do that with grad transfers Kenny Bigelow Jr. (USC) and Jabril Robinson (Clemson). He will have an extremely young group, but it's one that shows a ton of potential.

Doug Belk (Corner Backs Coach)

Belk enters his second season at West Virginia and has quickly become the Mountaineers' ace recruiter. His ties to the state of Georgia have helped build a potential pipeline for West Virginia. Prior to coming to West Virginia, Belk served as a defensive graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2014-2016. Being from Georgia, Belk has made great strides in mining the Peach State’s rich football talent. He, too, will face the challenge of having a thin group of experienced returners. There are only five scholarship corners on the roster. Hakeem Bailey and Derrek Pitts Jr. look to anchor down the starting roles.

Matt Caponi (Safeties Coach)

In 2016, Caponi was brought to Morgantown after stints at Arizona and Pittsburgh. Caponi has coached the defensive side of the ball in some fashion since graduating from Mount Union as a three-time national champion in 2004. Under his watch, he helped guide the 2016 Mountaineers' secondary to a No.35 ranking in interceptions (14). Caponi certainly has some serious talent returning in 2018 with veteran Dravon Askew-Henry and Toyous Avery, mixed in with newcomers Josh Norwood and Kwantel Raines.

Mark Scott (Linebackers/Special Teams)

Scott enters his seventh season at West Virginia and during his time he has been promoted numerous times. He arrived in 2012 as a graduate assistant before being promoted to special teams coach in 2015. Now, Scott will carry a bit more responsibility as he will also have a voice in the linebacker room.