MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Two days after National Signing Day, West Virginia will be in need of a new outside linebackers coach.
Al Pogue is returning to his homestate to coach at Auburn under Gus Malzahn. It is unclear what role Pogue, 44, will have with the Tigers.
“I’m so excited to be returning to Auburn. It’s a homecoming of sorts for me,” Pogue said in a news release. “Auburn is the school that gave me my first collegiate job in this great profession and I can’t thank coach Malzahn enough for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work, doing whatever I can to help this program continue to achieve greatness.”
“We’re very excited to bring Al back to Auburn. He has been a very successful coach on and off the field during his career. He has spent a lot of time coaching in the state of Alabama and has great ties and is well respected. Al is a great fit with our staff and will bring tremendous value as a coach and a recruiter.”
Pogue is a Mobile, Ala., native and played at Alabama State before entering the high school coaching ranks. He joined Auburn’s staff in 2011 as a quality control coach and spent three seasons with the Tigers under Gene Chizick and Malzahn. In 2014, Pogue joined Troy’s staff as a cornerbacks coach, and then worked with Neal Brown from 2016-18.
When Brown left for West Virginia, Pogue went with him, and coached outsider linebackers last year.
Known for his boisterous demeanor, Pogue brought energy to the field and was also a good recruiter. With WVU, he primarily recruited Alabama, Florida and Georgia, and will likely fill the same role at Auburn. He is replacing Marcus Woodson, who left for Florida State in January.
On Wednesday, the Mountaineers signed bandit linebacker Eddie Watkins, who sited a reason he signed at WVU was because of Pogue.
