Holgorsen makes first appearance in Morgantown, says he doesn't expect any problems with Stewart
West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart (right) affixes a team pin on the man who will replace him after next season, Dana Holgorsen.
MORGANTOWN - Dana Holgorsen spent part of a day in Morgantown Wednesday, his first since being named West Virginia's offensive coordinator next season and the school's head coach in 2012.
MORGANTOWN - Dana Holgorsen spent part of a day in Morgantown Wednesday, his first since being named West Virginia's offensive coordinator next season and the school's head coach in 2012.
And it didn't take him long to echo the sentiments of the other principals involved in this rather odd arrangement in regard to how it will all work out.
First, athletic director Oliver Luck went on record as saying he foresees nothing but a professional transition as Holgorsen begins the eventual replacement of Bill Stewart. Then Stewart chimed in that he was on board with it all.
Holgorsen was no different when the question was posed to him Wednesday at his first press conference since the move was made.
"If I thought it was a problem, I wouldn't be here. That's No. 1,'' Holgorsen said. "I've got a lot of respect for coach Stew and what he's done. I know what kind of a person he is. I've got a lot of respect for Oliver as far as what he's accomplished and the kind of person he is. But at the end of the day, it's about surrounding yourself with good people and hiring good people. And if everybody's on the same page, it gives you a chance to win football games.''
Holgorsen's stop in Morgantown was brief Wednesday because he still is involved in his old job. While West Virginia prepares for the Dec. 28 Champs Sports Bowl against North Carolina State, Holgorsen's Oklahoma State team - he is the offensive coordinator there - plays a day later in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
So Holgorsen won't be around as part of WVU's coaching staff goes through bowl preparations either knowing they are out of a job afterward or wondering if they are. He and Stewart will settle the issues of staffing when Holgorsen starts his new job Jan. 1.
His goal, he said, is to get along and do what is best for the program.
"If I come to work January 1st and there's people fighting each other, then you're not going to win games,'' Holgorsen said. "But I think we're all comfortable with each other at this point, and we know that if everybody's on the same page, we've got a chance to win. I'm not concerned about that. I'm excited about being around a bunch of good people.''
Aside from Stewart's eventual departure after next season, there are at least two casualties on the current WVU coaching staff because of the change at the top. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen and offensive line coach Dave Johnson won't be back. The entire defensive staff has been invited to return, but the rest of the offensive coaches are at the mercy of Holgorsen, who will have the final say in their futures at WVU.
But until he begins work in a little over a week, staffing decisions are on the back burner.
"We're not too concerned with that right now,'' Holgorsen said. "What we're concerned with is West Virginia winning their bowl game and, on my end, Oklahoma State winning their bowl game. Then once that's over, we can move on to the next chapter.
"In a perfect world, this press conference would have happened about nine days from now. But because you guys like to write stories and stuff, we had to do it a little bit quicker.''
Holgorsen was hired at West Virginia last week after his name had surfaced in connection with the vacant Pitt coaching job. He wouldn't talk about the specifics of the courtship, nor would he discuss the Pitt job.
MORGANTOWN - Dana Holgorsen spent part of a day in Morgantown Wednesday, his first since being named West Virginia's offensive coordinator next season and the school's head coach in 2012.
And it didn't take him long to echo the sentiments of the other principals involved in this rather odd arrangement in regard to how it will all work out.
First, athletic director Oliver Luck went on record as saying he foresees nothing but a professional transition as Holgorsen begins the eventual replacement of Bill Stewart. Then Stewart chimed in that he was on board with it all.
Holgorsen was no different when the question was posed to him Wednesday at his first press conference since the move was made.
"If I thought it was a problem, I wouldn't be here. That's No. 1,'' Holgorsen said. "I've got a lot of respect for coach Stew and what he's done. I know what kind of a person he is. I've got a lot of respect for Oliver as far as what he's accomplished and the kind of person he is. But at the end of the day, it's about surrounding yourself with good people and hiring good people. And if everybody's on the same page, it gives you a chance to win football games.''
Holgorsen's stop in Morgantown was brief Wednesday because he still is involved in his old job. While West Virginia prepares for the Dec. 28 Champs Sports Bowl against North Carolina State, Holgorsen's Oklahoma State team - he is the offensive coordinator there - plays a day later in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
So Holgorsen won't be around as part of WVU's coaching staff goes through bowl preparations either knowing they are out of a job afterward or wondering if they are. He and Stewart will settle the issues of staffing when Holgorsen starts his new job Jan. 1.
His goal, he said, is to get along and do what is best for the program.
"If I come to work January 1st and there's people fighting each other, then you're not going to win games,'' Holgorsen said. "But I think we're all comfortable with each other at this point, and we know that if everybody's on the same page, we've got a chance to win. I'm not concerned about that. I'm excited about being around a bunch of good people.''
Aside from Stewart's eventual departure after next season, there are at least two casualties on the current WVU coaching staff because of the change at the top. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen and offensive line coach Dave Johnson won't be back. The entire defensive staff has been invited to return, but the rest of the offensive coaches are at the mercy of Holgorsen, who will have the final say in their futures at WVU.
But until he begins work in a little over a week, staffing decisions are on the back burner.
"We're not too concerned with that right now,'' Holgorsen said. "What we're concerned with is West Virginia winning their bowl game and, on my end, Oklahoma State winning their bowl game. Then once that's over, we can move on to the next chapter.
"In a perfect world, this press conference would have happened about nine days from now. But because you guys like to write stories and stuff, we had to do it a little bit quicker.''
Holgorsen was hired at West Virginia last week after his name had surfaced in connection with the vacant Pitt coaching job. He wouldn't talk about the specifics of the courtship, nor would he discuss the Pitt job.
"I don't ever shop myself around. I don't think that's necessary,'' Holgorsen said. "I think that people who do shop themselves around have agendas and they don't really focus at the task at hand.''
The bottom line as to why Holgorsen decided to take the job at West Virginia - he received a six-year contract that will pay him $850,000 next year as offensive coordinator and his head coach's salary the following year will begin at $1.4 million - was the chance to work with good people at a place where a winning tradition is already in place.
"You want to go somewhere where you're surrounded by good people and where you're in a position where you can win football games,'' Holgorsen said. "A lot of places out there are facing an uphill battle as far as winning games. Here it's 60 wins in the last six years. You've got a chance to win and a chance to work with some good people who are all focused toward winning a championship. It was a pretty easy decision.''
Other tidbits from Holgorsen's press conference:
Someone mentioned that Stewart, under whom Holgorsen will work next season, has a habit of occasionally calling 6:30 a.m. practices."I'm sorry, Dana,'' Stewart said. "I didn't tell you about that.''
"That is a bit early,'' said Holgorsen, a bachelor who lived in a hotel during his year as OSU's offensive coordinator. "But yeah, well, I'll make it work.''
Luck previously said that the decision to replace Stewart was made in part because Luck didn't feel the team could win a national championship without new leadership. Holgorsen was asked if that was a bit of pressure."You mean this isn't the only place that wants a national championship?'' Holgorsen deadpanned. "It's hard and it's a challenge. But if you're at a place that has a chance to get that accomplished, then you're at the right place.''
Three years ago, Holgorsen left a job as Texas Tech offensive coordinator for a similar spot at Houston. The difference was that at Texas Tech, head coach Mike Leach was actually running the offense."People thought I was crazy. 'Why are you leaving the Big 12 to go to Conference USA?'" Holgorsen recalled. "Well, two reasons. One, I was tired of telling Mike to punt. And two, I wanted to make those decisions.''
On his short-term and long-term goals at West Virginia, where he will be charged with revamping the offense and trying to maintain the defensive excellence established under defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel:"Well, keeping Jeff Casteel happy is one [goal],'' Holgorsen said. "My job for a whole year is going to be getting the offense where we want it. And then keep him happy after that.''
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
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