MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University has tabbed the football team’s offensive coordinator to take the helm as interim head coach for the Mountaineers’ season finale.
Chad Scott was named WVU’s interim coach Monday morning and will coach the Mountaineers in whichever bowl game they play, the university announced. Scott replaces Neal Brown, who was fired Sunday after a 52-15 loss at Texas Tech dropped WVU to 6-6 on the season and 5-4 in the Big 12.
“I want to thank Coach Scott for agreeing to lead our team in bowl preparation,” West Virginia University athletic director Wren Baker said. “He has been a strong and great leader for our program, and someone who cares for our student-athletes
“I appreciate his willingness to step forward to make for as smooth of a transition as possible,” Baker added. “I have confidence that Coach Scott will have our team prepared and ready to play.”
Scott was hired onto Brown’s initial staff in 2019 after spending from 2016-18 as North Carolina’s tight ends/hybrids coach. Scott has overseen WVU’s running backs for six years, was co-offensive coordinator from 2019-21, run game coordinator in 2022 and has been offensive coordinator the last two seasons.
One of WVU’s strengths among its struggles in the 2024 season has been its running game. It ranked 27th nationally this season at 192.67 yards per game, and featured a trio of runners with at least 600 yards – running backs Jahiem White and C.J. Donaldson and quarterback Garrett Greene. WVU finished fourth overall in rushing in 2023.
WVU will learn its bowl destination Sunday, when the rest of the college football postseason is announced.
Recruiting takes a hit
Coaching changes usually have a ripple effect in recruiting, and it has been no different for WVU following Brown’s dismissal. The Mountaineers have already seen multiple de-commitments since the announcement.
The highest profile has been 2026 quarterback commit Brodie McWhorter from Cartersville, Georgia. McWhorter is a four-star prospect considered a top-20 QB prospect for the 2026 class.
“When I committed in June, I never thought I would have to write this,” McWhorter wrote in a social media statement. “After talks with my family, due to recent coaching changes, we feel that it is best to decommit at this time. While this decision wasn’t easy, we think it is best for my future.”
McWhorter holds offers from 25 schools, according to 247Sports.com, including Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana.
Other de-commitments since Sunday include Tampa, Florida, cornerback Serious Stinyard and Huntingtown, Maryland, defensive lineman Evan Powell from the 2025 class and Aliquippa, Pennsylvania linebacker Daiveon Taylor in the 2026 class.
Early National Signing Day for football for the 2025 class is Wednesday.
Players hitting the portal
WVU has also seen a handful of players already announce they’ll enter the transfer portal – redshirt junior offensive lineman Bryce Biggs, redshirt sophomore safety Raleigh Collins and redshirt freshman safety Josiah Jackson. Biggs played in three games this season. Collins did not see action this year, but played in 12 games the previous two seasons. Jackson played in two games last season, but did not see action this season.
