MORGANTOWN — The beginning of Dana Holgorsen’s West Virginia tenure was controversial, notably marked by an infamous casino incident before he took over as the Mountaineers head coach. His exit from West Virginia may also prove turbulent — and facilitated by a famous casino owner.
The University of Houston formally contacted West Virginia on Monday seeking an interview with Holgorsen, a prominent WVU source confirmed to The Dominion Post. West Virginia granted Houston permission to speak with Holgorsen, greasing the skids for a likely divorce.
Another source connected to University of Houston mega-donor Tilman Fertitta indicated to The Dominion Post that an agreement to bring Holgorsen to Houston is close to being finalized. The Cougars fired Major Applewhite on Sunday after just two years. Applewhite went 15-11 as Houston’s head coach, but suffered a humiliating 70-14 bowl loss to Army.
The source told The Dominion Post, “There’s a 99.9999 percent chance you’ll be neck-deep in a coach search on Jan. 2. It’s real.”
Holgorsen owes West Virginia $2.5 million if he leaves for another coaching job before Jan. 1, but that total drops to $1 million on New Year’s Day.
Fertitta, who Forbes lists with a net worth of $4.5 billion, is Houston’s top donor. In addition to owning the NBA’s Rockets, the Golden Nugget chain of casinos is among his properties. Its Lake Charles, La. location — some two hours from Houston — is already known as a Holgorsen vacation haunt.
Holgorsen is 61-41 in eight years at West Virginia, giving him the second-most wins in program history. However, the Mountaineers finished the year on a three-game losing streak after peaking at No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
A rebuild is pending next season with the Mountaineers forced to replace all-American left tackle Yodny Cajuste, receiver David Sills and Big 12 defensive player of the year David Long. West Virginia also has to replace quarterback Will Grier, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy race, and receiver Gary Jennings Jr., who led the team with 83.4 yards per game. With West Virginia’s record almost certain to slip next season, the best time for Holgorsen to jump may be right now if he wants a long-term contract at any school.
Holgorsen’s WVU contract pays him $3.8 million next year and runs through the 2021 season. Applewhite’s contract was for $1.5 million last year, but the 40-year-old was a first-time head coach. Houston previously paid Tom Herman a $2.8 million salary before he departed for Texas after the 2016 season.
Holgorsen was hired by former WVU athletics director Oliver Luck as a “coach in waiting” in late 2010 with the idea that Holgorsen would serve as Bill Stewart’s offensive coordinator in 2011. That awkward working arrangement barely had a chance to begin.
Stewart was forced out in June 2011 after tipping off reporters to probe other derogatory information on Holgorsen, who admitted to “inappropriate behavior” after being escorted from a Cross Lanes casino a month earlier.
Holgorsen’s on-the-field career started with a bang. The Mountaineers won the Big East title in their final year in the league, and pounded Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl. Similar Big 12 success never materialized.
The Mountaineers have not finished better than third in the Big 12 since moving to the league in 2012, and Holgorsen has gone 1-5 in bowl games since beating Clemson, including last week’s 34-18 loss to Syracuse in the Camping World Bowl.
