West Virginia University has fired head coach Neal Brown, and will begin a national search for his replacement, multiple sources have told EerSports. Brown, who came to WVU in 2019 after a very successful tenure at Troy, finishes his time in Morgantown with a 37-35 record, including 25-28 in Big 12 Conference play. The Mountaineers were blown out by Texas Tech, 52-15, to finish the season.
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Brown came to WVU as a late replacement for Dana Holgorsen, who parted for Houston on January 1st of 2019. Holgorsen and the University could not agree on an extension, resulting in his late decision, and pushing WVU into a coaching search well after most schools had already filled their vacancies.
Former Athletic Director Shane Lyons – who admitted to EerSports that he always had “a list” – turned his focus to three separate candidates: Brown, Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell, and former WVU defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. Lyons ultimately landed on Brown after interviewing the trio.
Things were looking up early in Brown’s tenure. In 2019, with a severely limited scholarship number and lack of experience on both sides of the ball, the Mountaineers finished the year 5-7, including winning two of their last three after a quarterback change. The following year, West Virginia went 6-4 and won the Liberty Bowl against Army.
That – and some talk of Brown getting calls from South Carolina and Auburn – prompted Lyons to sign Brown to an extension that offseason. That new deal fully guaranteed his contract through 2026. While things were rocky in 2022, with a new Athletic Director incoming in Wren Baker, Brown and the Mountaineers bounced back with a 9-4 season in 2023. That resulted in a one-year extension and restructuring of Brown’s contract.
West Virginia’s coaching search will begin in earnest, and EerSports will have you covered the entire way. Be sure to check back frequently for updates, including on our Head Coach Hot Board.
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