MORGANTOWN — West Virginia signed new football coach Neal Brown to a six-year contract worth $19 million.
“We will work hard, play hard and do things the right way to make the people from the great state of West Virginia proud of their program,” Brown said. “That will be a foundational element of our culture. I can’t wait to meet our team and get to work!”
University president Gordon Gee, a major influencer during the search, called Brown “a well-respected man of purpose and integrity.”
The school on Friday informed Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell of its intentions to hire Brown. Fickell and Brown interviewed for the vacancy this week, as did current West Virginia defensive coordinator Tony Gibson.
Lyons was excited to land one of the top coaches at the Group of Five level — especially with Mountaineers players returning to campus this weekend.
Brown steps in for Holgorsen, whose eight-year tenure officially ended Wednesday afternoon when he left for Houston.
Brown’s recent 31-8 three-year stretch made him a candidate for recent vacancies at Louisville and Kansas State. His 2017 team won at LSU and his 2016 squad battled to a 30-24 loss at Clemson.
On route to this year’s 10-3 mark, Troy won at Nebraska and ultimately beat Buffalo 42-30 in the Dollar General Bowl.
An “Air Raid” disciple who played receiver for Hal Mumme at Kentucky, the 38-year-old Brown has been an offensive coordinator at Texas Tech and Kentucky. He continued calling plays in his head coaching role at Troy.
Brown’s overall record with the Trojans was 35-16, including 23-9 in the Sun Belt Conference.
“There is a new energy at our university within our football program,” Gee said Saturday, noting Brown’s vision to lift West Virginia to “unprecedented places.”
Intent on hiring someone with head-coaching experience, West Virginia’s second-tier list of candidates included Mike Norvell of Memphis, Seth Littrell of North Texas and Toledo’s Jason Candle. In the end, Lyons and Gee never had to move beyond their top two choices, Brown and Fickell.
While Fickell was intrigued by the chance to reprise the relationship he formed with Gee at Ohio State, sources said he and his wife were concerned about the lack of a Catholic high school in Morgantown. Their six children currently attend Catholic school in Cincinnati.
Fickell also expressed reluctance about jumping to a Power Five job after only two seasons leading the Bearcats. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Fickell further endeared himself to UC leaders by leveraging only more money for his assistants, not himself.
Brown was believed to be Lyons’ primary target since Holgorsen began giving serious signs of pursuing the Houston job after the Camping World Bowl on Dec. 28.
The Troy coach reportedly aced his interview, mixing big-picture plans for growing the program with detailed evaluations of certain West Virginia players, including a breakdown of sophomore quarterback Jack Allison’s throwing mechanics.
A native of Danville, Ky., Brown’s Appalachian roots also seemed a comfortable fit for WVU administrators who could envision him becoming a favorite of donors.
West Virginia’s introductory press conference is expected Sunday or Monday after Brown informs players, assistants and administrators at Troy.
In question over the next 48 hours is how many members of the current WVU staff Brown hopes to retain. Houston outlets reported that cornerbacks coach Doug Belk was offered a spot on the UH staff. Director of player personnel Ryan Dorchester, after 14 years at WVU, also was expected to join Holgorsen, as was associate AD for football Alex Hammond.
