Many around the West Virginia University program remember Oliver Luck as a quarterback. Some followed him in the business world.

Across the Mountain State, however, the soon-to-be athletic director is known as a winner, and those close to the WVU program gave him an overwhelming thumbs-up.

Including the man he'll be replacing on July 1.

"I am pleased that Oliver Luck will be taking over,'' Pastilong said. "He is very capable and an all-around good guy.''

Pastilong, who will serve as AD emeritus through 2012, even seemed proud that he helped recruit Luck in football from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland to WVU.

"I look forward to working with him over the next two years and continuing the momentum that we have going. He will be a good fit for our staff.''

Luck's former coach, Don Nehlen, called the hire "a slam dunk.''

"I think it's great,'' Nehlen said. "He'll do a wonderful job for WVU.''

Nehlen said he remembers "how tough mentally'' Luck was as a quarterback.

"He was a quarterback, but he was also a football player,'' Nehlen said. "He was a tough son-of-a-gun.

"What's not to like? He's a Mountaineer. He's sharp. He'll bring national recognition to the school immediately. [WVU president] Jim Clements should feel very good about this hire.''

The current WVU football coach, Bill Stewart, said, "Oliver Luck was a great Mountaineer leader as our quarterback, and now will be a great Mountaineer leader as our athletic director. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the job, and this is a great day for West Virginia University.''

"Oliver Luck is the perfect guy to build on the unparalleled success of Ed Pastilong from the last 22 years,'' said Mountaineer basketball coach Bob Huggins via a release. "Oliver brings a wealth of business experience in running professional organizations, which will enable us to continue to build our budget to make our athletic teams more competitive while continuing to keep our athletic department in the black.

"I have followed Oliver's career from the time he played football and basketball at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. And like all Mountaineer fans, I cheered his accomplishments as our quarterback. Oliver epitomized the term student-athlete, with the emphasis on student.''

Luck was also a hit in the Charleston area. Drew Payne, Board of Governors vice chairman and coal, mining and timber executive, called Luck "one of us.''

"I think it's good,'' Payne said. "He's bright. He's the guy who will be in charge of the next generation. I'm very happy about it.''

"It's a great fit,'' said big WVU booster Mike Smith, sales consultant at Smith Co. Motor Cars. "It's can't miss, to be honest. He's the right person at the right time.

"He's a local boy. Everybody's happy. He's a great guy, a Rhodes Scholar [finalist] and has great credentials. You can't go wrong.''

Big East commissioner John Marinatto welcomed Luck via a released statement.

"On behalf of the Big East Conference and our 16 member institutions, it is my esteemed pleasure to formally welcome Oliver Luck, his wife, Kathy, and their four children to our family,'' Marinatto said. "Oliver's background as a Mountaineer alum and the breadth of his experience no doubt make him an ideal candidate to lead the West Virginia athletic program into the future and strategically contribute to the future of the Big East Conference.''

Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.