By Christopher Walsh
Tuscaloosa News Sports Writer
There haven’t been too many disappointments in Rich Rodriguez’s football coaching career, but last week’s 24-19 loss by his No. 7 West Virginia Mountaineers to South Florida was definitely one of them.
Coming in, his quarterback Patrick White and leading running back Steve Slaton had both exceeded 1,000 rushing yards for the season, and averaged more than 7 yards per carry. West Virginia was the No. 2 rushing team in the country and averaged just 16.6 passes per game, but accumulated just 132 rushing yards on 37 carries and 178 passing yards against the Bulls.
“No question this was the worst our offense has played all year," Rodriguez said. “Some of our best runs today, we’re losing yards."
By now, you might be wondering why on early the University of Alabama is seriously considering making the energetic 43-year old the next coach on the Capstone.
Consider this: Heard of the spread offense? Rodriguez basically invented it, yet without becoming a slave to the passing game. By constantly tinkering and tweaking the scheme to best suit his players, he’s leading the Mountaineers to their fourth straight bowl appearance, and this year they’ve averaged 41 points and 330 rushing yards.
If anything, the loss to South Florida was due to expectations he raised, and many West Virginia fans have been calling this season a failure if it didn’t reach a Bowl Championships Series game or play for the national title. Some even compare it to 2004, when the Mountaineers lost their last two conference games against Boston College and Pitt prior to loss to Florida State in the Gator Bowl.
“I think it is ridiculous people talking about the 2004 team as being a bust or whatever. They won a share of the Big East championship and went to the Gator Bowl," Rodriguez said. “This team has won nine games and has a chance to win 10 and go to another bowl game. Is it what everybody wanted? No, but are we at that point when if we’re not in a BCS bowl that it’s a bad year at West Virginia?
“I don’t know. I guess we’re finding out."
Last year, West Virginia finished 11-1, and after defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, 38-35, finished No. 5 in the final Associated Press Poll. It marked only the second top-five season in school history, and was the 11th finish in the top 20.
Although Bobby Bowden coached at West Virginia (1970-75, 42-26 with two appearances in the Peach Bowl) for six seasons, and Rodriguez has had an impressive stretch, Don Nehlen (1980-2000, 149-93-4) is still considered the face of the program.
Coming off four straight losing seasons, Nehlen’s first team went 6-6 followed by three straight 9-3 finishes. In 1988, the Mountaineers ran off an undefeated regular season to play for the national championship (a 34-21 loss to Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl), and in 1993 he again won 11 games.
“Don Nehlen is considered to be the E.F. Hutton of college football, because when he speaks, out of respect for his wisdom and experience, we all listen," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said when Nehlen retired. “College football certainly will miss one of the icons of our profession."
Little did Nehlen know, his replacement had also been listening, Rodriguez, a three-time lettermen for West Virginia from 1982-84. But while he had been a walk-on defensive back for the Mountaineers, who also served as a student assistant coach in 1985, it was his offensive prowess that he would become known for as a coach.
It started to develop at Salem, where after two years as an assistant he had the distinction of being the youngest college head coach in America at the age of 24. When the program was terminated in 1988 following a 2-8 finish, he went back to West Virginia to be a volunteer assistant, before landing the head coaching job at NAIA Glenville State. The Pioneers were coming off a winless season, and had scored only 20 points in 10 games.
In 1993, Glenville State won its first league title since 1959, and advanced all the way to the NAIA title game. It was the first of four straight playoff appearances.
“There was always this competition about who would come up with the next great idea," Mike Springston, Rodriguez’s former offensive coordinator, recently told the Newark Star-Ledger. “Both of us had suggestions at times when we looked at each other sideways and said, 'We can’t do that.’ But when no one else is doing it, you can be as creative as you can dream."
With Urban Meyer, whose staff has visited West Virginia to study the offensive scheme, proving that the spread can work in the SEC, Alabama fans could see something new and radical compared to Crimson Tide teams of the past, though it would be costly.
Last June, Rodriguez signed a seven-year contract that will pay him $8.65
if he remains at West Virginia through the 2012 season. The contract mandated that he make $1 million this year with a $50,000 raise each subsequent season.
Rodriguez will also make $100,000 per season in deferred earnings if, and only if, he remains through 2011, for an extra $600,000.
In order to hire Rodriguez, Alabama, which has to give $4 million to Mike Shula for terminating his contract early, would have pay another $2 million for the buyout.
“I have no idea what anybody is talking about," Rodriguez told the MetroNews Statewide Sport radio show Friday night, echoing what other Alabama candidates have said. “I have not talked to anybody. They haven’t offered me anything. I didn’t even say I was interested. When all of these rumors came up, all I said was I don’t address rumors. It’s as simple as that."
Although some believe Florida State might be Rodriguez’s dream job, and he’s also a candidate at Miami, Alabama was the job that Bowden always coveted. His son, Tommy Bowden, was Rodriguez’s boss at both Clemson and Tulane, including the 12-0 1998 season, but the Seminoles got the best of Rodriguez in the 2005 Gator Bowl, 30-18.
Rick Trickett
Assistant Head Coach
Offensive Line</FONT>
Rick Trickett serves as assistant head coach to Rich Rodriguez and works daily in practice with the Mountaineer offensive line. Trickett is in his second tour of duty with West Virginia football. He coached the Mountaineer offensive line from 1976-77 and the WVU defensive line from 1978-79.
Trickett spent the 2000 season as assistant head coach and offensive line coach at LSU, where he tutored three all-SEC linemen, including All-America tackle Brandon Winey, for the Peach Bowl champions.
In 1999, Trickett was head coach at Glenville State, where he led the Division II school to a 5-6 record. From 1993-98, he was offensive line coach at Auburn, where he coached three first-round draft picks: Wayne Gandy, Willie Anderson and Victory Riley. The Tigers played in the 1996 Outback, 1996 Independence and 1998 Peach Bowls.
Prior to Auburn, Trickett was offensive line coach at Mississippi State (1989-92). His resume also includes work as an assistant at Memphis (1986-88), New Mexico (1985), Southern Mississippi (1982-85), Southern Illinois (1980-81), Indiana, Pa. (1974-75) and Glenville (1973).
A Masontown, Preston County, W.Va., native, Trickett received a bachelor’s degree from Glenville in 1972, where he was an all-conference strong safety, and a master’s from Indiana (Pa.) In 1975. Trickett, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and his wife Tara Jo have three sons – Travis, Chance and Clint.
Jeff Casteel
Defensive Coordinator
Linebackers</FONT>
Jeff Casteel is the WVU defensive coordinator and serves as coach of the Mountaineer linebackers. He was elevated to co-defensive coordinator prior to the 2002 season, in charge of all defensive personnel. In 2001, his first season at WVU, Casteel served as the coach of the WVU defensive line.
Casteel came to WVU from Texas-El Paso; he coached the defensive ends there, as UTEP won the 2000 WAC title and a bid to the Humanitarian Bowl.
From 1991-99, he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Shepherd College; Shepherd won six WVIAC championships during that time. He served as defensive line and strength coach at Shepherd from 1988-90. In 1987, he was defensive coordinator at Miami (Fla.) Palmetto High School.
A native of Paden City, W.Va., Casteel holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California (Pa.) University. He served as a student and graduate assistant coach at his alma mater from 1984-86, and also worked in the training camp of the CFL’s Baltimore Stallions for two seasons. He and his wife Rosemary have two children, Jacob and Sarah.
Calvin Magee
Offensive Coordinator
Running Backs
Calvin Magee is the assistant coach in charge of the Mountaineer running backs; he was named WVU’s offensive coordinator in April, 2004.
Magee came to WVU from the University of South Florida, where he was run game coordinator, after a stellar career in professional football.
A four-year starter for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1985-88, he led the Bucs in receptions (45), receiving yards (564) and receiving touchdowns (5) in 1986. Magee was a Pro Bowl alternate in 1987. He completed his professional career with the Houston Oilers in 1989. Magee served as running backs coach at South Florida since 1997, and he was promoted to run game coordinator prior to the 1999 season. He was a part of USF’s original football staff in 1996 as the tight ends and special teams coach. Prior to joining the USF staff in 1996, Magee was assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Tampa Catholic High School from 1990-95.
An All-American at Southern University, he was a three-time all-SWAC selection at tight end. He led Southern in receptions for four years (1981-84), was named team MVP twice (1983 and 1984) and was selected as MVP of the 1984 Freedom Bowl. Magee was inducted to the Southern University Hall of Fame in 2000.
Magee, a New Orleans native, completed his degree work in criminology at South Florida in 1990. Magee and his wife Rosie have three children, Jade, Bryson and Jasmine.
Tony Gibson
Defensive Backs
Tony Gibson works with the WVU secondary, tutoring the Mountaineer cornerbacks and free safeties daily in practice. Gibson came to WVU in January, 2001, as a graduate assistant for the Mountaineer defense, and was promoted to a full-time position in April of that year. Gibson played for Rich Rodriguez at Glenville State College as a defensive back from 1991-94 and was a part of two WVIAC championship teams.
A native of Van, W.Va., where he was a three-sport letterman at Van High School, Gibson began his coaching career at Gilmer County (W.Va.) High School, where he was head coach and interim athletic director in 1995. In 1996, he joined Rodriguez’ staff at Glenville, coaching the defensive backs and kickoff teams.
From 1997-98, Gibson was defensive back coach and recruiting coordinator at Cumberland University, where he also coordinated the special teams. He was defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at West Virginia Tech during the 1999-2000 seasons.
A graduate of Glenville, Gibson and his wife Kerry have two children, Cody and Ashton.
Herb Hand
Tight Ends
Recruiting Coordinator</FONT>
A veteran of the Rich Rodriguez offense, Herb Hand coaches the Mountaineer tight ends. Hand also serves as the Mountaineers’ recruiting coordinator.
Hand, who served as an offensive graduate assistant at Clemson in 1999-2000, began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Framingham (Mass.) High School in 1990, before moving to West Virginia Wesleyan as an assistant coach from 1991-93.
From 1994-97, Hand served as defensive coordinator at Glenville State, and he was defensive and special teams coordinator at Concord College from 1997-99 before going to Clemson.
A 1990 Hamilton College graduate, he received a master’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan in 1993. A native of Westmoreland, N.Y., he and his wife Debbie have three children, Trey, Bailey and Cade.
__________________ Yippee-ki-yay,
After everything is said and done, more is said than done. Defy Conventional Wisdom - Noah
Last edited by Noah.Dreams : 12-07-2006 at 10:57 PM.
Butch Jones joined the WVU football staff in January, 2005, as assistant coach for the Mountaineer wide receivers.
Jones came to WVU from Central Michigan, where he served as offensive coordinator and running backs coach for three years. He spent seven seasons total on the Chippewa staff; Jones was the tight ends coach in 1998 and wide receivers coach in 1999 before taking charge of the running backs.
Jones spent three seasons from 1995-97 (two as offensive coordinator) at his alma mater Ferris State; during that time, FSU won two Midwestern Intercollegiate Football Championships and advanced to the Division II semifinals in 1995.
Jones worked within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization as an intern from 1987-90 and began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Rutgers from 1990-92. He served as the offensive coordinator at Wilkes University from 1992-95 before returning to Ferris. A 1990 graduate of Ferris State with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, he earned two letters in football before suffering a career-ending knee injury. A native of Saugatuck, Mich., Jones and his wife Barbara have two sons, Alex and Adam.
Bill Kirelawich
Defensive Line
Bill Kirelawich, a superb motivator, returned to the field beginning with the 2003 season to coach the Mountaineer defensive line.
Kirelawich held the role of administrative assistant for player development for Rich Rodriguez for two years, after 22 seasons as a Mountaineer assistant coach, the longest ever on-the-field tenure in WVU history.
Perhaps the proudest chapter of that tenure may have come in 1996, when Kirelawich helped the Mountaineer defense rank first in the nation in total defense (217.5 ypg), second in rushing defense (61.5 ypg), fourth in scoring defense (12.4 ppg) and fifth in pass efficiency defense (86.8). The Mountaineers committed the fewest turnovers of any team nationally (10); WVU's +1.27 turnover margin was second in the country.
After spending one season as a part time coach, Kirelawich became a full time member of the West Virginia staff in 1980. As defensive line coach during his first eight seasons in Morgantown, he developed WVU's front four into a force to be reckoned with. Prior to the 1988 campaign, Kirelawich took over the WVU outside linebackers, a position he coached for three seasons before returning to the line.
He first made a reputation for himself in the high school ranks where he spent nine years as head coach at Cardinal Brennan (Pa.) High School, developing a losing program into one of Pennsylvania's finest. His 1975 team was ranked 10th in the state. Nine of his former players went on to play major college football.
A native of Frackville, Pa., Kirelawich was a standout defensive lineman at Salem College under Donnie Young. He was captain during his senior season, leading the Tigers to an 8-1 record and a Top 20 NAIA national ranking. His 89 yard interception return still stands as a school record.
Kirelawich received his bachelor's degree in education from Salem in 1969. He and his wife, Maggie, have three children: Miki, Billy and Jake.
Bill Stewart
Quarterbacks
Special Teams
Bill Stewart is working with the Mountaineer quarterbacks for the seventh consecutive season. He added the duties of special teams coordinator under Rich Rodriguez.
Stewart, a native of New Martinsville, W.Va., came to WVU as quarterback coach in January, 2000, from the Canadian Football League, where he served as offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1999, tutoring two all-conference receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher. As offensive line coach for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes in 1998, Stewart's line blocked for Mike Pringle, the first 2,000-yard rusher in CFL history (and one of only six in the history of pro football).
A 1975 education graduate of Fairmont State, where he was a three-year letterman and team captain for the WVIAC champions in 1974, Stewart earned a master's degree in health and physical education from WVU in 1977.
Stewart's lengthy coaching resume began at Fairmont, where he was a student assistant coach for a season, before becoming an assistant coach at Sistersville (W.Va.) High School in 1975. In 1977, he moved to Salem College, where he was assistant football and head track coach for two seasons. In 1979, he moved to the University of North Carolina; he was later an assistant at Marshall (1980), William & Mary (1981-83), Navy (1984), North Carolina (1985-87), Arizona State (1988-89) and Air Force (1990-93). In 1994, Stewart became head football coach at VMI, where he was 8-25 over three seasons. His 1995 team was the highest scoring (24.5 ppg) squad in VMI history, and Keydet running back Thomas Haskins set a I-AA rushing record with 5,349 yards.
He and his wife Karen, also a native of New Martinsville, have one son, Blaine.
Bruce Tall
Safeties
Bruce Tall joined the WVU football staff in February, 2003, serving as assistant coach for the Mountaineer spur and bandit safeties.
Tall came to WVU from Western Michigan, where he served as defensive line coach in 2002, as the Broncos led the MAC in total defense (330.7 yards per game). From 1998-2001, Tall was defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Harvard; two of those years, the Crimson had the Ivy League’s top rushing defense.
Tall worked five seasons (1993-97) as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Northeastern. His 1997 team ranked second in Division I-AA rushing defense at 60.5 yards per game. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan, and then became the full-time linebacker coach for the 1983 and 1984 seasons. He was the linebacker, special teams and tight end coach at Cornell from 1985-86 before returning to Ohio Wesleyan (1987-92) in a variety of roles: defensive line coach, linebacker coach, special teams coordinator and later defensive coordinator.
A 1982 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, he earned three letters in football and one in wrestling. He received the 2001 Assistant Coach of the Year award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the All-American Football Foundation.
Tall has completed NFL internships with the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, where he was named to the high school’s all-time football team, Tall and his wife Karmen have three children: Braythan, Karsyn and Kallyn.
__________________ Yippee-ki-yay,
After everything is said and done, more is said than done. Defy Conventional Wisdom - Noah
Rich Rodriguez BIO
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Jeff Casteel
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