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Assistant Coaches
THE MOORE FILE
Year at WVU: 4 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 17 Birthday: October 18 Hometown: Canton, Georgia Wife: Kelly Children: Tanner, Reece and Sutton High School: Cherokee College: Valdosta State, ‘96 Bowl Games Coached: 11
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COACHING EXPERIENCE
2020-22 West Virginia Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line 2019 West Virginia Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line 2018 Troy Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line 2015-17 Troy Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line 2013-14 Louisiana Tech Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line 2012 Middle Tennessee State Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator 2007-11 Texas Tech Offensive Line 2006 Troy Offensive Line 2005 North Gwinnett (Ga.) High Head Coach 1999-04 Hoover (Ala.) High Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line 1997-98 Pickens (Ga.) High Head Coach/Running Backs
MATT
MOORE
Matt Moore is in his fourth year on the Mountaineer staff as offensive line caoch and third year as the assistant head coach.
In 2021, the offensive line cleared the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in Leddie Brown for the second straight year. Center Zach Frazier earned All-America second team honors by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association, and tackle Wyatt Milum was named to three different freshman All-America teams. Frazier earned All-Big 12 Conference Second Team honors by the league head coaches, and guard Doug Nester was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team by PFF College.
In 2020, despite having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia had one of the most improved offenses in the nation in terms of total yards, showing gains of more than 60 yards rushing per game, almost 30 yards passing a game, more than 90 yards of total offense and almost seven more points a game.
His offensive line had a productive year with Leddie Brown rushing for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns and Jarret Doege throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 14 touchdowns. Four of Moore’s offensive linemen earned postseason honors in 2020. Senior guard Mike Brown earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors, Chase Behrndt was an All-Big 12 Fourth Team selection by Phil Steele, Brandon Yates was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection and Zach Frazier earned Freshman All-America honors. In Moore’s first year with the offensive line, left tackle Colton McKivitz earned Walter Camp and Associated Press All-American honors and was named the Big 12 Conference’s Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year. The All-Big 12 First Team honoree played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, participated in the NFL Player Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Moore joined the football coaching staff as the Mountaineers’ co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in January 2019. Moore came with WVU coach Neal Brown after serving as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for four years at Troy (2015-18). He spent two years on the offensive staff at Texas Tech in 2010-11 and was on the staff with Brown at Troy in 2006. In 2018, the Trojans finished 10-3 and tied for first place in the Sun Belt Conference East Division. Seven players from the Trojan offense earned All-Sun Belt Conference recognition, including three first-team selections. The 2017 squad finished 11-2, won the Sun Belt Conference Championship and had a signature win at No. 22 LSU, snapping the Tigers’ 49-game nonconference home winning streak. Moore’s offensive line finished No. 6 nationally in offensive line efficiency and No. 12 in fewest sacks allowed.
Four Trojan offensive linemen earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors, including left tackle Antonio Garcia, who was the highest selected offensive lineman in conference history, No. 85 overall in the NFL draft by the New England Patriots.
Moore’s offense led the Sun Belt in scoring offense in 2016, and finished No. 2 in the league in passing offense and total offense. Troy finished 10-3 and earned its first top-25 national ranking in school and conference history.
The Trojans also tied for the nation’s lead in best win improvement from the previous year. Troy placed six offensive players on All-Sun Belt teams, including four first-team selections. Prior to Moore’s first season at Troy, he spent the previous two years as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Louisiana Tech. In 2014, the Bulldogs won the Conference USA Western Division Championship and earned a trip to the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Moore also spent time at Middle Tennessee (OL/2012), Texas Tech (OL/2007-11) and Troy (OL/2006). He began his coaching career at the high school level, producing successful runs in Georgia and Alabama.
While at Middle Tennessee, the Blue Raider offensive line ranked No. 2 nationally in fewest sacks allowed, and Moore was nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in the nation.
His Texas Tech offensive line paved the way for the Red Raiders to score 28 rushing touchdowns in 2008, second most in school history. The Red Raiders led the country in passing offense, registering 5,371 yards and were No. 4 in total offense with 6,903 yards.
With Brown and Moore on the Texas Tech staff together in 2010, the Red Raiders finished No. 7 nationally in passing, No. 15 in total offense and No. 23 in scoring offense. The following year, the Red Raiders ranked No. 7 in passing, No. 13 in total offense and No. 22 in scoring offense.
Moore’s career began as the head coach and running backs coach at Pickens High in Jasper, Georgia, from 1997-98, before spending the next six years as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at perennial powerhouse Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama. Moore helped lead the Buccaneers to a 77-7 record and three consecutive Class 6A state titles.
Moore also served as head coach at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, before beginning his collegiate coaching career at Troy.
A native of Canton, Georgia, Moore played at Valdosta State, starting 34 games at left guard from 1991-94. He earned All-Gulf South Conference First-Team honors as a senior. Moore graduated from Valdosta State in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education.
He and his wife, Kelly, have three daughters, Tanner, Reece and Sutton.
THE MOORE FAMILY: Tanner, Matt, Sutton, Kelly and Reece
THE HARRELL FILE
Year at WVU: 1 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 10 Birthday: May 22 Hometown: Ennis, Texas Wife: Brittney Children: Hawk and Mia High School: Ennis College: Texas Tech, ‘07 Bowl Games Coached: 5
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2022 West Virginia Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2019-21 USC Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2016-18 North Texas Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2015 Washington State Outside Receivers 2014 Washington State Offensive Analyst 2010 Oklahoma State Quality Control Analyst
GRAHAM
HARRELL
Graham Harrell is in his first year on the Mountaineer coaching staff as the offensive coordinator and the quarterbacks coach. Harrell came to WVU after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at USC for the past three years (2019-21). In 2021, USC led the Pac-12 and was No. 17 nationally in passing offense (298.3) and red-zone offense (.902), No. 20 in third-down conversion percentage and No. 24 in total offense (443.9). Receiver Drake London was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, earned a spot on several All-America teams and was a top-10 NFL draft pick. In 2020, USC’s passing offense ranked No. 11 nationally (first in Pac-12) at 319.3. Quarterback Kedon Slovis made All-Pac-12 first team while ranking in the top 20 in completions (first at 29.5), passing yards (sixth at 320.2), total offense (No. 13 at 310.7) and completion percentage (No. 18 at .670), all tops in the Pac-12. Wide receiver AmonRa St. Brown also was an All-Pac-12 first teamer. In Harrell’s first year at USC in 2019, the Trojan offense averaged 455.4 total yards (335.8 passing) and 32.5 points—significant improvements from 2018, when the figures were 382.6, 249.1 and 26.1—while ranking in the top-25 in completion percentage, passing offense, passing efficiency, total offense, third down conversions and first downs. The 2019 Trojans also set school season pass marks for total passing yards (4,365), completion percentage (71.0%), completions (365) and attempts (514). Under Harrell’s tutelage, Slovis was a Freshman All-America first teamer and the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year,
He completed a school-record and NCAA freshman record 71.9% of his passes for a USC frosh record 3,502 yards with 30 TDs, including a school-record 515 passing yards against UCLA (one of a USC record four games with 400-plus passing yards), to rank in the top-20 in completion percentage, passing yards, completions, passing efficiency, passing TD and total offense (his 167.9 passing efficiency rating was a USC record).
Michael Pittman Jr., who won the 2019 Pop Warner College Football Award and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff and Witten Awards, was in the top 20 in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs.
Prior to his three-year stint at USC, Harrell produced back-to-back top-25 offenses, as the offensive coordinator at North Texas.
After inheriting an offense that ranked in the nation’s bottom 25 in scoring, passing and total offense in 2015, he helped the Mean Green improve statistically in each category in 2016, including by 9.6 points per game. Then in 2017, North Texas was No. 19 nationally in scoring (35.5), No. 21 in passing (291.9) and No. 24 in total offense (455.1). In 2018, UNT ranked 12th in passing (306.8), 20th in total offense (460.5) and 26th in scoring (34.6). North Texas also rushed for more than 150 yards a game in 2017 and 2018. UNT won nine games each in Harrell’s last two seasons and qualified for bowl games all three years that he was on staff (2016 Heart of Dallas, 2017 New Orleans, 2018 New Mexico) after UNT only played in one bowl the previous 11 seasons. Harrell came to UNT from Washington State, where he worked for head coach Mike Leach as the outside receivers coach in 2015 after serving as an offensive analyst in 2014. The 2015 Cougars led the nation in passing offense (389.2) and won eight games, including the Sun Bowl. Harrell was a record-setting quarterback for Leach at Texas Tech from 2005-08, finishing his career with an NCAA-record 134 touchdown passes, the secondmost career yards in NCAA history (15,793) and the third-highest career passing average (351.0). He also set NCAA career marks for pass completions average (31.2), as well as most games gaining 400-plus passing yards (20), games gaining 400-plus total yards (21) and seasons gaining 4,000-plus total yards (3). His career average of 486.3 passing yards against Texas was an NCAA record against one opponent. In each of his three seasons as a starter, his passing yardage figures placed in the top-25 all-time at the FBS level (21st in 2006 with 4,555 yards, second in 2007 with 5,705 and sixth in 2008 with 5,111) and he was the first player with a pair of 5,000-yard passing seasons. In 2008, he was first team All-America, finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, was a finalist for the Walter Camp and Davey O’Brien Awards and was a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete. His 5,111 passing yards led the nation, and he threw 45 touchdowns with only nine interceptions while completing 70.6% of his aerials. Texas Tech went 11-2, including a victory over No. 1 Texas, and played in the Cotton Bowl in 2008. Harrell played for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2009 and served as a quality control assistant at Oklahoma State for several months in 2010, before heading back to continue his NFL career. He played three years with the Green Bay Packers (2010-12), including on the 2010 Super Bowl XLV championship team and had a brief stint with the New York Jets in 2013. He played for his father, Sam, at Ennis High, throwing for Texas career records of 12,532 yards and 167 touchdowns. He led Ennis to the state Class 4A title as a 2001 sophomore. As a senior in 2003, he set state records for season passing yards, completions and touchdowns (4,825, 334, 67). Inducted into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame in 2020, Harrell earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Texas Tech in 2007. Harrell, and his wife, Brittney, have a 6-year-old son, Hawk and a daughter, Mia. Harrell’s brother, Clark, played quarterback at Tulsa (2007) and Abilene Christian (2008-10). Clark and his other brother, Zac, are now high school football coaches in Texas.
THE HARRELL FAMILY: Graham, Hawk, Brittney and Mia
THE LESLEY FILE
Year at WVU: 4 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 17 Birthday: December 15 Hometown: Fulton, Mississippi Wife: Ann-Katherine Children: Mary-Kate and Mae-Blake High School: Itawamba Agricultural College: Troy, ‘06 Postgraduate: Troy, ‘07 Bowl Games Coached: 5
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-22 West Virginia Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers 2020 West Virginia Co-Defenisve Coordinator/Defensive Line 2019 West Virginia Defensive Line 2018 Troy Defensive Line 2016-17 Troy Defensive Tackles 2013-15 East Mississippi CC Defensive Coordinator 2012 Northwest Mississippi CC Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line 2011 Kilgore College Defensive Coordinator 2010 Northwest Mississippi CC Defensive Line 2007-09 Kilgore College Linebackers 2006 Troy Graduate Assistant
JORDAN LESLEY
Jordan Lesley is in his fourth year on the Mountaineer Football coaching staff and third year as the defensive coordinator. The two-time Broyles Award nominee coaches the outside linebackers for the second year after working with the defensive line his first two seasons. Under Lesley’s guidance, the Mountaineer defense competes each year as one of the best units in the Big 12 Conference as well as the nation. Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Dante Stills was an All-Big 12 Conference First Team honoree and four other players were named to the all-conference third team by various organizations. WVU finished No. 5 nationally in red-zone defense, an improvement of 67 spots from the year before, was No. 18 in fewest defensive first downs allowed and in fourth-down percentage, No. 29 in third-down defense (.347), No. 37 in total defense (350.1) and No. 39 in tackles for loss (6.5), an improvement of nine spots from the 2020 season.
Defensive tackle Dante Stills was No. 4 in the Big 12 in tackles for loss and No. 10 in sacks, while defensive end Taijh Alston was No. 15 in sacks and No. 16 in tackles for loss. Linebacker Josh ChandlerSemedo was the third-leading tackler in the league (8.5) and safety Sean Mahone was No. 18 (6.2). Cornerback Charles Woods was No. 13 in passes defended (8) and Daryl Porter Jr. was No. 14 (7). Woods was No. 4 in fumbles recovered and safety Saint McLeod was No. 8 in forced fumbles. The WVU defense had an outstanding year in 2020, leading the nation in pass defense and ranking No. 4 in in total defense (291.4), No. 21 in scoring defense (20.5), No. 23 in interceptions (11), No. 24 in pass efficiency defense (121.52) and No. 28 in rushing defense (131.8).
Darius Stills was named the program’s first Consensus All-American since 2006 and 12th in school history. He was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, an AllBig 12 Conference First Team lineman for the second straight year and was signed as a free agent by the Las Vegas Raiders. Over his final two years, he finished with 10.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss.
Akheem Mesidor was an All-Big 12 Conference Second Team honoree and also earned freshman All-America honors, and Dante Stills earned All-Big 12 Conference Second Team honors by the AP.
In 2019, his defensive line enjoyed a successful season for the Mountaineer defense, finishing No. 25 nationally in sacks and No. 35 in tackles for loss. Defensive linemen Darius and Dante Stills were tied for No. 2 in the Big 12 in sacks and Darius was No. 5 in tackles for loss and Dante was No. 10. The Stills brothers earned All-Big 12 Conference honors, Darius on first team and Dante on second team.
Lesley joined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the defensive line coach in 2019. He came with Brown and after serving as an assistant coach at Troy for three years (2016-18), the first two years as the defensive tackles coach and the 2018 season as the defensive line coach. From 2016-18, Troy’s defense allowed 20.8 points per game, ranking No. 4 nationally among non-power 5 schools. In 2018, the Trojans were ranked No. 10 nationally in sacks, No. 16 in tackles for loss, No. 24 in rushing defense, No. 28 in scoring defense and No. 31 in total defense. Three of Lesley’s defensive linemen were named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team, including Trevon Saunders, who earned first-team honors. Troy finished 10-3, tied for first place in the Sun Belt Conference Eastern Division, and defeated Buffalo, 42-32, in the Dollar General Bowl. Prior to Troy, Lesley was the defensive coordinator at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi (2013-15), before serving two stints at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi, first as defensive line coach in 2010 and then as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in 2012. He also spent two stints at Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas, first as the linebackers coach from 2007-09, and as the defensive coordinator in 2011. He spent a year as a graduate assistant coach at Troy in 2006. While at East Mississippi, Lesley’s defenses allowed an average of just 10.3 points and 232.1 yards per game as the Lions posted a combined 32-1 record with national titles in 2013 and 2014. Additionally, the Lions tallied 149 quarterback sacks and 57 interceptions in his three seasons. In his first season at East Mississippi, the Lions recorded an NJCAA-best 67 sacks and finished second nationally with 30 interceptions and by allowing just 9.8 points per game. The 2012 NWCC squad claimed the school’s first bowl victory in 20 years and earned a No. 9 NJCAA final ranking. The 2010 Northwest team posted an undefeated regular season on the way to finishing with a No. 6 national ranking. Lesley helped lead Kilgore to the 2007 Southwest Junior College Football Conference Championship en route to an appearance in the Heart of Texas Bowl. During his four seasons at Kilgore, Lesley helped direct the Rangers to three consecutive playoff appearances while helping tutor 11 players that went on to sign at four-year schools, including six NJCAA All-Americans. As a graduate assistant at Troy, he began his coaching career on the 2006 Sun Belt Conference championship team. The Trojans won seven of their last eight games that season, including a 41-17 victory over Rice in the New Orleans Bowl. Lesley was a versatile player for the Trojans and was a key part of teams that successfully made the transition to the FBS ranks. A two-year starter at tight end, Lesley helped lead Troy to the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl and was named a team captain. A native of Fulton, Mississippi, Lesley was a three-time all-district performer at Itawamba Agricultural High School, earning Class 4A All-State Second Team as a senior in 1999. Lesley and his wife, Ann Katherine, have two daughters, Mary Kate and Mae Blake, and a son, Jordan Jr.
THE LESLEY FAMILY: Jordan, Jordan Jr., Ann Katherine, Mae Blake and Mary Kate
THE BROWN FILE
Year at WVU: 2 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 17 Birthday: November 20 Hometown: Danville, Kentucky Wife: Rhonda Children: Shaelyn, Braylon and Keenan High School: Danville College: Campbellsville, 2003 Postgraduate: University of the Cumberlands, 2008 Bowl Games Coached: 3
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-22 West Virginia Co-Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Backs 2018-20 Louisville Safeties 2018 Colorado Defensive Passing Game Coordinator 2017 Colorado Secondary 2016 Army – West Point Cornerbacks 2015 Carolina Panthers Summer Intern: Secondary 2015 Wofford Safeties 2011-14 Wofford Cornerbacks 2008-10 Rowan County HS Head Coach 2007 Boyle County HS Assistant Coach 2006 Campbellsville Inside Linebackers 2004-05 University of the Cumberlands Inside Linebackers 2003 University of the Cumberlands Graduate Assistant Outside Linebackers
SHADON BROWN
ShaDon Brown is in his second year as the co-defensive coordinator and oversees the defensive secondary. In Brown’s first year as the Mountaineers’ secondary coach, WVU finished No. 5 nationally in red-zone defense, an improvement of 67 spots from the year before, was No. 18 in fewest defensive first downs allowed and in fourthdown percentage, No. 29 in third-down defense (.347), No. 37 in total defense (350.1) and No. 39 in tackles for loss (6.5), an improvement of nine spots from the 2020 season. WVU tied for No. 2 in the Big 12 in conference games in interceptions and was No. 3 in passing defense, giving up only 211.2 yards game through the air. In all games, WVU was No. 5 in the nation in red-zone defense and No. 18 in fewest first downs allowed.
In 2021 conference games, Charles Woods was tied for No. 11 in the league in interceptions and No. 13 in passes defended. According to PFF College, he had the lowest pass rating allowed in coverage among Big 12 cornerbacks (22.1).
In 2020, the Louisville secondary led the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing defense and was No. 17 nationally, giving up 189.2 yards per game. The Cardinals defense was No. 3 in the ACC in scoring defense, total defense and pass-efficiency defense. Senior safety Russ Yeast was UL’s fifth-leading tackler, registering 45 tackles, including 31 solo stops, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Isaiah Hayes was the seventh-leading tackler with 37 tackles, including 23 solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups.
In 2019, Brown guided a safety group, which was led by Khane Pass, who posted a career high 81 tackles and made the key defensive play in the Music City Bowl win by returning a fumble for a touchdown late in the game. Brown was named one of the top 30 recruiters in the ACC by 247Sports.
Prior to Louisville, Brown spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Colorado, overseeing the secondary. He was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator for the 2018 season.
The Colorado secondary thrived during Brown’s tenure in Boulder, allowing opponents to complete just 56.2% of their passes. The Buffaloes led the Pac-12 Conference in opposing completion percentage (56.7 percent) in 2018 and ranked fourth in 2017. Colorado was No. 2 in third-down defense and No. 5 in total defense and pass defense in 2018 and No. 6 in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense in 2017.
Brown coached a pair of all-conference selections, Evan Worthington, who earned honorable mention honors in 2017 and 2018, and Isaiah Oliver, who was a second-team All-American and an All-Pac-12 First Team selection in 2017. Oliver was a second-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2018 National THE BROWN FAMILY: Braylon, ShaDon, Rhonda and Football League draft. Five Keenan players Brown coached at Colorado signed NFL contracts: Oliver (Atlanta Falcons), Delrick Abrams (Atlanta Falcons), Davion Taylor (Philadelphia Eagles), Afolabi Laguda (Los Angeles Rams) and Worthington (Baltimore Ravens). Brown spent the 2016 season at Army, coaching the cornerbacks. The Black Knights’ defensive backfield ranked No. 2 nationally in first-down defense, No. 4 in total defense, No. 6 in pass defense (170.2), No. 11 in interceptions (17), No. 16 in scoring defense and No. 17 in pass efficiency defense (115.12). While Brown was on staff, Army went from a 2-10 record in 2015 to an 8-5 mark in 2016 and a win in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against North Texas. Prior to that, Brown spent five seasons (2011-15) at Wofford, the first four as cornerbacks coach before switching to the safeties for his final year. Brown was also special teams coordinator during the 2013-14 seasons, before being promoted to recruiting coordinator in 2015. He coached three all-conference corners at Wofford, including Blake Wylie, who earned third-team All-America honors in 2012. In the summer of 2015, he participated in the NFL’s program for minority coaches by interning with the Super Bowl 50 runner-up Carolina Panthers, where he worked with the defensive backs. Before joining the Wofford staff, Brown coached in the high school ranks in Kentucky. From 2008-10, he served as the head coach at Rowan County High, where he led the Vikings to the 2010 Class 4A District 8 Championship, the school’s first title since 1982. He was named the Kentucky Class 4A District 8 Coach of the Year in 2010, and 10 of his players went on to play college football. He was an assistant coach at Boyle County High (Neal Brown’s alma mater) for the 2007 season. He started his coaching career in 2003 as a graduate assistant helping tutor the linebackers at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. After one year, he was promoted to the full-time assistant coach for the inside linebackers (2004-05), helping lead the Patriot football team to as high as No. 5 in the national rankings. In 2006, he returned to his alma mater, Campbellsville, as the inside linebackers coach for one season. Brown graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physical education and a minor in health education from Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky in 2003 and earned his master’s degreew in secondary education from the University of the Cumberlands in 2008. He and his wife, Rhonda, have a daughter, Shaelyn, and two sons, Braylon and Keenan.
THE SCOTT FILE
Year at WVU: 4 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 17 Birthday: June 11 Hometown: Plant City, Florida Wife: Shambrica Children: Kori and Jakobe High School: Plant City College: North Carolina, ‘04 Bowl Games Coached: 7
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2022 West Virginia Run Game Coordinator Running Backs 2019-21 West Virginia Co-Offensive Coordinator/ Running Backs 2016-19 North Carolina Tight Ends/Hybrids 2014-15 Kentucky Run Game Coordinator/ Running Backs 2013 Kentucky Running Backs 2010-12 Texas Tech Running Backs 2007-09 Troy Running Backs 2006 North Carolina Graduate Assistant
1
CHAD SCOTT
Chad Scott is in his fourth year on the Mountaineer coaching staff as the running backs coach. He served as the co-offensive coordinator for the first three years and was named the run game coordinator this past offseason. In 2021, running back Leddie Brown finished with more than 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight season (1,065) and finished with a teamhigh 14 offensive touchdowns. He ranked No. 6 in the Big 12 Conference in rushing, No. 4 in total touchdowns and No. 11 in scoring.
In 2020, the Mountaineers had the most improved offense in the country in terms of total yards. Their running game improved its production by more than 60 yards per game, more than 90 yards of total offense and almost seven points a game.
Leddie Brown had a productive year, rushing for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns, earning All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors. Brown averaged 5.1 yards per carry and was ranked No. 14 nationally in rushing yards (1,010), No. 26 in touchdowns (11), No. 27 in rushing yards per game (101.0) and No. 31 in rushing touchdowns (9).
Scott has worked with coach Neal Brown during three different coaching tenures: Kentucky (RB/2013-14), Texas Tech (RB/2010-12) and Troy (RB/2007-09). He also was a teammate of Brown’s at UK.
He came to Morgantown after serving as the tight ends and hybrids coach at North Carolina from 2016-18. In 2018, the Tar Heel offense ranked No. 31 nationally in total offense, averaging 442.1 yards per game. Tight end Carl Tucker was named to the Mackey Award preseason watch list, and he and his teammate, Jake Bargas, averaged more than 10 yards per reception. In 2016, Scott was part of an offensive staff that oversaw the establishment of more than 40 individual and team records, including passing yards and passing yards per game.
Scott returned to Chapel Hill after coaching at Kentucky, where he tutored running backs from 2013-15 and was the run-game coordinator in 2014-15. He helped develop a solid Wildcat running attack that featured Stanley Williams, who rushed for 7.1 yards per carry, and Jojo Kemp, who gained 5.7 yards per attempt.
He spent three seasons at Texas Tech from 2010-12. While the Red Raiders were known for throwing the ball, Scott’s running backs made significant contributions to the offense. The Red Raiders rushed for 135.7 yards per game and scored 52 rushing touchdowns during his three seasons. TTU’s primary running backs averaged 5.0 yards per rushing attempt.
Scott inherited a running attack that ranked No. 115 in rushing offense in 2009 at 84 yards per game, improving that mark in his first season to No. 75 nationally with 141.3 yards per contest. The team’s leading rusher, Baron Batch, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and spent three years with that team. The improvements continued in Scott’s second season as Texas Tech was on pace to have its best year rushing since the late 1990s before Tech’s top two rushers sustained season-ending injuries. The Red Raider running backs still rushed for 1,516 yards on the season. In 2012, TTU averaged 139.9 yards per game on the ground with three backs rushing for more than 400 yards each. Scott earned his first full-time coaching job at Troy as an assistant coach for running backs from 2007-09, helping lead the Trojans to three consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championships and a pair of appearances in the New Orleans Bowl. Scott was a part of an offensive turnaround at Troy, inheriting an offense that ranked No. 66 in rushing offense and No. 77 in total offense prior to his arrival. In just one season, Troy moved to No. 35 nationally in rushing offense with 182.6 yards per game and No. 16 in total offense with 452.8 yards per contest. In his final season at Troy, the Trojans ranked No. 3 in the nation in total offense. In each of Scott’s first two seasons, he coached an AllSun Belt Conference player in Kenny Cattouse and DuJuan Harris. Harris, who has played in the NFL for seven years, ranked No. 2 in the conference in rushing in 2008 with 1,077 yards In Scott’s last season at Troy, he coached Shawn Southward, who rushed for 602 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors. A native of Plant City, Florida, Scott began his collegiate playing career at Kentucky before transferring to North Carolina, where he lettered in 2003 and 2005. He earned first-team All-ACC honors from ESPN.com after rushing for 796 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. Scott made his first career start as a Tar Heel against No. 4 Miami and rushed for a career-high 175 yards on 25 carries and scored twice in a 31-28 victory. Scott spent time in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers before returning to his alma mater in 2006 as a graduate assistant video analyst. He graduated from UNC in 2004 with a degree in sociology. He is married to the former Shambrica Jones, who played basketball at Kentucky. The couple has a daughter, Kori, and a son, Jakobe.
THE SCOTT FAMILY: Shambrica, Jakobe, Kori and Chad
THE KOONZ FILE
Year at WVU: 3 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 19 Birthday: May 30 Hometown: Wallkill, N.Y. Wife: Maura Children: Mary Margaret, Jameson and MacKenzie High School: Central Holmes (Lexington, Miss.) College: Auburn, ’04 Postgraduate: Texas, ’06 Bowl Games Coached: 10
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2020-22 West Virginia Special Teams Coordinator/ Inside Linebackers 2019 Ole Miss Inside Linebackers 2018 North Texas Co-Defensive Coordinator 2017-18 North Texas Linebackers 2016 Cincinnati Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers 2015 Cincinnati Linebackers 2014 Cincinnati Safeties 2010-13 Louisiana Tech Linebackers 2009 Texas Defensive Quality Control 2007-08 Iowa State Defensive Secondary 2006 Texas Linebackers 2005-06 Texas Graduate Assistant 2004 Auburn Graduate Assistant
JEFF
KOONZ
Jeff Koonz is in his third year on the Mountaineer coaching staff as the special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach. In 2021, kicker Casey Legg was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, signifying the top kicker in college football. He hit 19-of-23 field goals and all 35 extra points and led WVU in scoring (92). He was first in the Big 12 Conference and No. 18 nationally in field goals made per game (1.6), No. 4 in the league and No. 26 nationally in field goal percentage, No. 3 in the conference in total field goals made (19) and No. 6 in scoring (7.7).
Punter Tyler Sumpter was No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference and No. 36 nationally in punting, and Winston Wright Jr. was No. 19 nationally in kickoff return average per game. Wright was named an AllBig 12 Conference First Team selection by PFF College. WVU’s defense finished No. 5 nationally in red zone defense, an improvement of 67 spots from the year before, was No. 18 in fewest defensive first downs allowed and in fourth-down percentage, No. 29 in third-down defense (.347), No. 37 in total defense (350.1) and No. 39 in tackles for loss (6.5), an improvement of nine spots from the 2020 season. The WVU defense had an outstanding year in 2020, leading the nation in pass defense and ranking No. 4 in total defense (291.4), No. 21 in scoring defense (20.5), No. 23 in interceptions (11), No. 24 in pass efficiency defense (121.52) and No. 28 in rushing defense (131.8).
Tony Fields II led the Mountaineers and the Big 12 with 88 tackles, ranking No. 27 nationally. He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and the Reese’s Senior Bowl All-American team and was drafted in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. WVU’s kickoff return defense was the best in the Big 12 and No. 39 in the nation, and the punt return defense was No. 3 in the Big 12 and No. 17 in the nation.
Koonz came to West Virginia after serving as the inside linebackers coach at Ole Miss for the 2019 season. Two of his linebackers, Lakia Henry (81 tackles) and Jacquez Jones (62 tackles), were two of the three top tacklers for the Rebels and Jones tied for second on the team in tackles for loss (6.5). The defense finished with 30 sacks for the season, ranking No. 2 in the SEC and No. 25 nationally.
Prior to that, Koonz spent two years at North Texas, coaching the linebackers, before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the 2018 season. He helped develop E.J. Ejiya, who led UNT in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks both years.
Koonz spent three years at Cincinnati, coaching the safeties in 2014, and linebackers in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, he mentored second-team All-AAC selection Eric Wilson and freshman standout Bryce Jenkinson, who finished first (106) and third (59) on the team in tackles, respectively. Cincinnati finished its 2014 campaign with a 9-4 record, an American Athletic Conference Championship and a matchup against Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl. Before his tenure at Cincinnati, Koonz spent four seasons at Louisiana Tech. During the 2013 campaign, Tech’s first as a member of Conference USA, he coached the linebackers, led by Conference USA honorable mention player Daniel Cobb, who finished the season with 82 total tackles. In 2011, Tech’s starting linebackers Adrien Cole and Jay Dudley accounted for 230 total tackles - 65 percent of Tech’s tackles for the season. Cole led the team with 128 tackles and 13 tackles for a loss as he was named first team All-Western Athletic Conference and the WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Dudley was responsible for 102 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and four interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. In 2010, his first year at Louisiana Tech, three of his linebackers finished the season in the top four on the team in tackles, with Cole earning second-team All-WAC honors. The Wallkill, New York, native previously served as a defensive quality control assistant at Texas, helping lead the Longhorns to a Big 12 title and an appearance in the 2009 BCS national championship game against Alabama. He also served at Texas as a graduate assistant from 200506 and linebackers’ coach toward the conclusion of the 2006 season. The Longhorns won the Big 12 championship and national championship in 2005. Prior to his second stint at Texas, Koonz was the secondary coach at Iowa State for two seasons under Gene Chizik, while also assisting with special teams from 2007-08. Koonz was also a graduate assistant coach at Auburn during the 2004 campaign under Tommy Tuberville, coaching the secondary. While at Auburn, he worked on staffs that led the Tigers to the 2002 Capital One Bowl championship, a 2003 Music City Bowl victory, the 2004 SEC championship and a win in the 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl. He graduated from Auburn in 2004 with a bachelor’s of science degree in physical education and received his master’s degree in educational administration from Texas in 2006. Koonz, and his wife, Maura, have two daughters, Mary Margaret and MacKenzie Rae, and a son, Jameson Jeffrey. His father, also named Jeff Koonz, recently retired after serving for 15 years as the head coach at Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi.
THE KOONZ FAMILY: (front left to right) Jameson and Mary Margaret. Back (left to right): Jeff, Maura and MacKenzie
THE JACKSON FILE
Year at WVU: 2 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 10 Birthday: February 18 Hometown: Middletown, N.Y. Wife: Blair High School: John S. Burke Catholic College: LIU Post, ’11 Postgraduate: Penn State, ’17 Bowl Games Coached: 4
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-22 West Virginia Defensive Line 2020 Old Dominion Defensive Line 2019 James Madison Defensive Line 2018 Mississippi State Defensive Quality Control Defensive Line 2017 Fordham Defensive Line 2015-16 Penn State Graduate Assistant Defensive Line 2013-14 Stony Brook Graduate Assistant Defensive Line 2013 LIU Post Gradute Assistant Defensive Line
ANDREW
JACKSON
Defensive Line @CoachJaxDL
Andrew Jackson is in his second year as the defensive line coach. In 2021, the defensive line finished with 20 1/2 sacks and 40 tackles for loss and ranked No. 39 nationally in tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Dante Stills earned All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors by the league coaches, Associated Press and Phil Steele after leading the defense with seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 in tackles for loss and No. 10 in sacks.
Defensive end Taijh Alston was named one of the Mayo Clinic semifinalists for Comeback Player of the Year, lineman Jordan Jefferson was named an All-Big 12 Third-Team honoree by PFF College and lineman Akheem Mesidor was named an All-Big 12 Third-Team selection by Phil Steele. WVU finished No. 5 nationally in red zone defense, an improvement of 67 spots from the year before, was No. 18 in fewest defensive first downs allowed and in fourth-down percentage, No. 29 in third-down defense (.347), No. 37 in total defense (350.1) and No. 39 in tackles for loss (6.5), an improvement of nine spots from the 2020 season.
Jackson came to Morgantown after serving as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for defense at ODU. He joined the ODU staff after spending the 2019 season at James Madison as the defensive tackles coach. While at JMU, the Dukes led the FCS in total defense and was third in scoring defense. Defensive tackle Mike Greene led the Colonial Athletic Association in sacks by an interior lineman and earned all-conference honors.
Jackson was the defensive quality control coach at Mississippi State in 2018, where he helped the Bulldogs to an 8-5 record and berth in the Outback Bowl. MSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight defensive categories, including a No. 1 national ranking in total defense (263.1). Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat earned All-Southeastern Conference honors.
In 2017, Jackson coached the defensive line at Fordham. He was responsible for game planning the run game, pass protection and thirddown blitz packages and prepared the opponent scouting report for the defense. Prior to that, Jackson was a graduate assistant with the defensive line for two years at Penn State. He completed all opponent and self-scout defensive breakdowns and coached the scout team. Two players he worked with earned national attention, All-American Carl Nassib and consensus All-American Anthony Zettel. Nassib was the Big Ten’s Bronko Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and was the Hendricks Award and Lombardi Award winner. Jackson spent two years as an assistant coach at Stony Brook, first as a graduate assistant and then as assistant defensive line coach. One of his players, Aaron Thompson went on to rank among the top 10 nationally in sacks and earn All-CAA First Team honors. Jackson started his coaching career at LIU Post as a graduate assistant. Jackson was a three-year captain and three-year starter for LIU Post. He was an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Second Team honoree as a senior after recording five sacks and 12 tackles for loss for the Pioneers. He was a member of the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society and was awarded two of the athletics department’s most prestigious honors, the Christine Webb Award and the Roy Illowit Award. Jackson earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education science and coaching from Long Island University in 2011 and three master’s degrees, one in Interdisciplinary studies from Long Island in 2012, liberal arts and science from Stony Brook in 2014 and educational leadership from Penn State in 2017. He and his wife, the former Blair Kersh, were married in July 2022.
THE JACKSON FAMILY: Andrew (AJ) and Blair
THE REAGAN FILE
Year at WVU: 4 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 15 Birthday: December 27 Hometown: Conyers, Georgia Wife: Elizabeth Children: Heidi, Chloe and Maggie High School: Salem College: North Georgia, ‘08 Bowl Games Coached: 8
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2022 West Virginia Tight Ends 2019-21 West Virginia Quarterbacks 2018 Troy Co-Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks 2015-17 Troy Quarterbacks/Running Backs 2011-14 Troy Quarterbacks 2010 Texas Tech Graduate Assistant/Quarterbacks 2008-09 Troy Graduate Assistant/Quarterbacks 2006-07 Monroe Area HS (Georgia) Offensive Coordinator 2004-05 Chestatee HS (Georgia) Offensive Coordinator 2002-03 Chestatee HS (Georgia) Assistant Coach 1998-01 Rockdale HS (Georgia) Assistant Coach
SEAN
REAGAN
Tight Ends @CoachSeanReagan
Sean Reagan is in his fourth year on the Mountaineer coaching staff, serving the first three as the quarterbacks coach and currently coaching the tight ends. In 2021, WVU was fourth in the Big 12 in passing yards, finishing with more than 3,200 yards through the air. Mountaineer quarterback Jarrett Doege was second in the league in passing yards, being one of only two passers with more than 3,000 yards, and was fourth in total offense.
In 2020, despite having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia had one of the most improved offenses in the nation in terms of total yards, showing gains of more than 60 yards rushing per game, almost 30 yards passing a game, more than 90 yards of total offense and scoring almost seven more points a game.
Jarret Doege threw for more than 2,500 yards and 14 touchdowns. He ranked No. 10 nationally in completions per game (23.9), No. 16 in passing yards (2,587), No. 23 in passing yards per game (258.7) and No. 37 in completion percentage (.639). He finished with four 300-yard passing games, had multiple passing touchdowns four times and had 30 or more completions three times.
In 2019, quarterback Austin Kendall averaged 20.8 completions per game, ranking No. 4 in the Big 12 and No. 25 nationally. Jarret Doege led WVU to wins in two of its final three games of the season.
Reagan came to West Virginia in 2019 after serving as an assistant coach at Troy from 2008-18, including the last four years as a member of Brown’s staff. He was the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018, oversaw the quarterbacks and running backs the previous three years (2014-17) and was the quarterbacks coach from 2011-14. He also served as a graduate assistant in 2010 at Texas Tech, where he worked with Brown, the offensive coordinator of the Red Raiders at the time. In 2018, Troy finished with a 10-3 record and tied for the Eastern Division championship in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans went on to defeat Buffalo in the Dollar General Bowl, marking the third consecutive season with a bowl win. Quarterback Kaleb Barker started the first six games and posted more than 1,000 passing yards and 10 touchdowns and ran for 261 yards and three touchdowns, before a season-ending injury forced him to hand the reins to Sawyer Smith. Prior to that, Reagan worked with three record-setting quarterbacks at Troy: Brandon Silvers (2014-17), Corey Robinson (2011-13) and Levi Brown (2008-09). In 2017, Troy finished the season 11-2 with a Sun Belt Conference championship, New Orleans Bowl victory and a regular-season win at No. 22 LSU, ending its 49-game home non-conference winning streak. Troy finished the 2016 season 10-3 with a victory on the Dollar General Bowl, the first top-25 ranking in school and Sun Belt history and tied for the best winimprovement in the country.
Reagan also coached the running backs for three years on Brown’s staff. During that time, Jordan Chunn finished with 1,288 yards and 16 touchdowns and went on to set the Troy career rushing and total touchdown records in 2017. He also mentored running back Brandon Burks, Troy’s eighth 1,000-yard rusher, finishing the 2015 season with 1,005 yards and seven touchdowns.
Robinson also had an impressive career with the Trojans, finishing as one of the top passers in school, Sun Belt and NCAA history. He led Troy with school and league records for touchdown passes, attempts, completions, passing yards and total offense. He finished with career as one of five players in NCAA history to throw for more than 3,000 yards and have more than 3,000 yards of total offense in four different years. He finished No. 9 in FBS history in passing yards and set the NCAA record for completion percentage in a game (30-of-32 against UAB in 2013), earning Capital One National Player of the Week honors.
After returning to Troy in 2011 as the quarterbacks coach, Reagan coached All-Sun Belt performer Deon Anthony. In 2012, Anthony set the Troy single-season record by completing 69.9 percent of his passes (79-of113) and was named the Allstate Sugar Bowl Manning Award Player of the Week. As a graduate assistant coach in 2008-09, Reagan was on the Trojans’ staff that won two Sun Belt Conference championships, including finishing with an undefeated conference record in 2009.
Reagan began his coaching career at the highschool level as an assistant at Rockdale High School in Conyers, Georgia, for four years (1998-01), before moving to Chestatee High School in Gainesville, Georgia, for four years (2002-06), including the final two as the offensive coordinator. He spent the 2006-07 seasons as the offensive coordinator at Monroe Area High School in Monroe, Georgia, before heading to Troy.
A native of Conyers, Georgia, Reagan received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and leadership from North Georgia College & State University in 2008. He, and his wife, Elizabeth, are the parents of three daughters: Heidi, Chloe and Maggie.
THE REAGAN FAMILY: Elizabeth, Maggie, Heidi, Chloe and Sean
THE WASHINGTON FILE
Year at WVU: 1 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 5 Birthday: October 18 Hometown: High Point, N.C. Wife: Tiffany Children: TJ, Langston High School: T. Wingate Andrews College: Appalachian State, ‘13 Bowl Games Coached: 3
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2022 West Virginia Wide Receivers 2020-21 Coastal Carolina Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2019 Louisville Offensive Graduate Assistant/Receivers 2018 East Carolina Offensive Quality Control/Receivers
TONY
WASHINGTON
Wide Receivers @Tony_TDUB
Tony Washington joined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the wide receivers coach in February 2022. Washington came to WVU after serving as the wide receivers coach at Coastal Carolina in 2019-20. During that time, the Chanticleers were one of the most successful programs in the nation, posting a 22-3 record and 14-2 mark in the Sun Belt Conference, spending most of that time in the national polls.
In 2021, the Chanticleers’ offense was one of the most explosive units in the nation, ranking among the top FBS teams in a variety of categories. Coastal Carolina finished with 11 wins, won the school’s first bowl game and spent time in the national top 20 for most of the season, finishing as one of the top teams just outside the top 25. CCU was the most efficient team in the nation and produced the best third-down conversion percentage, ranking No. 5 in total offense and scoring offense, No. 6 in rushing offense and fewest interceptions thrown, No. 23 in red zone offense, No. 25 in first down offense and No. 28 in passing offense.
Washington’s receivers were a vital part of the offense, as Jaivon Heiligh led the squad with 66 catches for 1,128 yards and seven touchdowns, earning honorable mention All-America honors and All-Sun Belt Conference honors for the second straight year. Kameron Brown also was named All-Sun Belt honorable mention. Heiligh was No. 22 nationally in receiving yards, and Heiligh and Brown ranked in the Top 11 in the Sun Belt in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Heiligh was No. 3 in the league in receptions per game.
In 2020, the Chanticleers won the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Conference title, posting an undefeated and untied regular season. They finished 11-1 overall, including an 8-0 Sun Belt Conference record, and played in the program’s first-ever FBS postseason bowl game. The program earned spots in the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Sports Polls.
Overall, the 2020 offense led the conference in scoring offense (37.2 points per game), third-down conversion percentage (52.3%), fourth-down conversion percentage (76.5%), time of possession (33:5%), completion percentage (66.6%), fewest interceptions thrown (five) and team passing efficiency (177.72). CCU was second in the league for the year in red-zone offense (88.3 percent), and second in sacks allowed per game (1.17) and tackles-for-loss allowed per game (4.33) on the year. The Chanticleers also ranked third in the conference in total offense (449.8 yards per game) and rushing offense (218.3 yards per game), both of which ranked in the top 25 nationally.
Heiligh led the offense with a team-high 65 receptions for 998 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch and 83.2 yards per game on his way to becoming just the 12th Chanticleer in program history to eclipse 1,000 career receiving yards. He also became just the sixth Chanticleer in program history to record over 100 pass receptions. Heiligh led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in 2020, but he did it in record-setting fashion by setting a new CCU singlegame record with 13 receptions. After putting together an outstanding collegiate resume at Appalachian State from 2009-13, Washington spent the majority of his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2014, Washington was picked up by the Jaguars later that summer before being acquired by the New England Patriots in 2017. Washington was a multiple All-Southern Conference pick, while at Appalachian State, earning all-conference accolades in 2012 and 2013, and was selected to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Senior Bowl. He can be found all over the Appalachian State record book, ranking in the top 10 in most pass receptions in a game (10), most pass receptions in a season (64), and most career receiving yards (1,837). He also ranks in the top 10 in the Mountaineers’ record books in several special teams categories including most kickoff return yards in a season (654), most kickoff return yards in a career (1,289), most kickoff returns in a season (31), most kickoff returns in a career (55), most yards per kickoff return in a season (27.3), most yards per kickoff return in a career (23.4) and the longest kickoff return (99). He earned several accolades for his performance in the classroom, including SoCon All-Academic, CoSIDA Academic All-District, and ADA FCS All-Star Academic honors, along with being the 2013 recipient of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award & Scholarship. Washington was a Dean’s List student who also captured the school’s Science Building Most Outstanding Student Award. In the community, Washington has served in mentorship and coaching roles for the Cheryl Littlejohn Kids Camp, Danny O’Brien Elite High School Football Academy and the Jacksonville Jaguars Community Outreach Program. In 2015, he served as a special guest speaker and receivers coach for the Nike Opening Orlando event. Washington, who prepped at T. Wingate Andrews High School in High Point, North Carolina, earned dual bachelor’s degrees in architecture & design technology and construction management from Appalachian State in 2013. Washington, and his wife, Tiffany, have two sons, TJ and Langston.
THE WASHINGTON FAMILY: TJ, Tony, Tiffany and Langston
THE WRIGHT FILE
Year at WVU: 3 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 16 Birthday: May 26 Hometown: Louisa, Kentucky High School: Lawrence County College: Miami, Ohio ‘07 Postgraduate: Kentucky, ‘09 Bowl Games Coached: 7
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2020-22 West Virginia Safeties 2019 Western Michigan Safeties 2018 Western Michigan Safeties/Co-Special Teams Coordinator 2017 Tennessee Tech Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Ends/Special Teams Coordinator 2016 Tennessee Tech Defensive Ends/Special Teams Coordinator 2015 Morehead State Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator Recruiting Coordinator 2013-14 Morehead State Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator 2012 Centre College Defensive Line 2010-11 North Alabama Defensive Line 2007-09 Kentucky Graduate Assistant
DONTAE WRIGHT
Safeties @CoachWright37
Dontae Wright is in his third year on the Mountaineer coaching staff as the safeties coach. He came to Morgantown after serving as the safeties coach at Western Michigan for two seasons. WVU finished No. 5 nationally in red zone defense, an improvement of 67 spots from the year before, was No. 18 in fewest defensive first downs allowed and fourth-down percentage, No. 29 in third-down defense (.347), No. 37 in total defense (350.1) and No. 39 in tackles for loss (6.5), an improvement of nine spots from the 2020 season. In 2021 conference games, WVU was tied for No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference in interceptions and was No. 3 in passing defense, giving up only 211.2 yards per game through the air. WVU was No. 5 in the nation in red zone defense and No. 18 in fewest first downs allowed. Safety Sean Mahone made his mark on and off the field. He was named a finalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Trophy, also known as the academic Heisman, and was a member of the Scholar-Athlete team, one of college football’s most prestigious academic teams. The school record-holder for the most games played in a WVU career (53), he was WVU’s second-leading tackler with 81 stops and tied for the team lead in interceptions (2). He was an All-Big 12 Third-Team selection by Phil Steele. Safety Alonzo Addae finished as WVU’s third-leading tackler (73), had three pass breakups and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. He signed a professional contract with the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks after being drafted as the No. 13 pick of the 2021 CFL Draft. The WVU defense had an outstanding year in 2020, leading the nation in pass defense and ranking No. 4 in total defense (291.4), No. 21 in scoring defense (20.5), No. 23 in interceptions (11), No. 24 in pass efficiency defense (121.52) and No. 28 in rushing defense (131.8). Alonzo Addae was the Mountaineers’ second-leading tackler with 66 stops, including 38 solo stops, tied for the team lead with two interceptions and tied for second on the team with five pass breakups. Addae was named a finalist for the Cornish Trophy, signifying the top Canadian football player playing in the United States and was named an All-Big 12 Second Team performer. Mahone was among the top tacklers for West Virginia, finishing with 54 tacklers, including 34 solo stops, one interception, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. At Western Michigan, his safeties helped WMU turn around its scoring defense in 2019, yielding 25.9 points per game, the best for the program since surrendering just 19.8 in 2016, and nearly nine points per game better than the 34.5 points a contest allowed in 2018. The unit was led by senior Justin Tranquill’s 83 tackles and two interceptions and junior A.J. Thomas’ 47 stops and six pass breakups. The group held three of its final five opponents to fewer than 150 passing yards. The 2018 season saw Wright guide Tranquill to 82 tackles and two pass breakups while Thomas finished with 47 stops. Prior to WMU, Wright served as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech for two seasons (201617), mentoring the specialists and the defensive ends. At the beginning of the 2017 season, Wright was promoted to defensive coordinator. In 2017, the Golden Eagles yielded 15.8 points per game, dropping more than 11 points from the 2016 average of 26.9. Wright guided the 2016 defensive squad to five Ohio Valley Conference wins. The program ended the campaign on the upswing with consecutive victories against Tennessee State and Murray State.
Before joining Tennessee Tech, Wright spent three seasons (2013-15) at Morehead State. He was the defensive coordinator for the 2015 season and worked with the defensive line, special teams and was a recruiting coordinator during his tenure. As the defensive coordinator, he lowered Morehead State’s points allowed per game by 18.3, which was the second-largest improvement for all Division I schools, FBS and FCS, from the year prior. The Eagles ranked in the top 10 in the FCS for interceptions (18) and turnovers (28) and in the top 20 for tackles for loss.
Wright also made a coaching stop at Centre College and spent two seasons (2010-11) at North Alabama, helping the Lions to a combined 18-8 record and an NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
Wright was a graduate assistant at Kentucky from 2007-09, working with the linebackers his first season and the defensive line the last two. During his time in Lexington, the Wildcats made two Music City Bowl appearances and one Liberty Bowl trip. As a player, Wright was a four-year linebacker at Miami (Ohio) from 2003-06 and was a part of two Mid-American Conference East Division championship teams. The RedHawks won the conference outright in 2003, earning a spot in the GMAC Bowl. They won won a division crown in 2004 and participated in the Independence Bowl.
A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Miami in 2007.
MIKE
JOSEPH
Mike Joseph has overseen the strength and conditioning unit at West Virginia since 2008, serving as the director until being named assistant athletics director in 2018 and assistant athletics director/head coach for football strength and conditioning in 2019.
He administers, coordinates, develops, implements and teaches strength and conditioning programs for all WVU studentathletes with an emphasis on the football program.
Joseph, who was presented with his Master Strength and Conditioning Coaching distinction in 2014, served for five years as the assistant strength coach at Notre Dame (2003-08), working with football and was responsible for the strength and conditioning programs for baseball, volleyball and softball prior to coming back to West Virginia.
Joseph worked with the head strength coach with football, assisted with workouts, testing,
conditioning, speed and agility training and in-season and offseason training schedules on a daily basis. He also was responsible for developing and training the quarterbacks, tight ends, linebackers, fullbacks and injured players. He also had the same responsibilities with baseball, volleyball and softball. He supervised and maintained facility and equipment and scheduling all student-athletes for the school’s 27 sports. He spent two years as an assistant strength coach at Eastern Michigan (2001-03) and as a graduate assistant at WVU (1999-2001). He also worked at Healthworks Fitness and Rehabilitation in Morgantown in the summer of 2001. Prior to that, he was the strength and conditioning coach at Fairmont State (Aug. 1998 – May 1999). He was the camp instructor at the Mountain State Speed and Strength Camp hosted by WVU from May 2000 until April 2001, served as a guest speaker and instructor at many camps and clinic and was a classroom instructor and state director for the National Association of Speed and Explosion. Joseph has coached 25 football players who earned All-America honors and more than 100 athletes who were either drafted or signed freeagent contracts in the NFL. While at Fairmont State, Joseph was a four-year letterman and three-year captain on the football team from 1994-97. He was a three time first-team all-WVIAC selection and was named the WVIAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1996. A 1997 regional AllAmerican, a Burger King Scholar Athlete and a WVIAC Scholar Athlete, Joseph was selected the vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and to the Fairmont State Student Council. Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree from Fairmont State in 1999 and received his master’s degree in from West Virginia in physical education with an emphasis in sport movement and development. He is certified by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) and the National Strength Coaches Association (NSCA). He and his wife, Andre, have two sons, Quincy and THE JOSEPH FAMILY: Brolin, Andre, Quincy and Mike Brolin.
