Dana Holgorsen Leaving OSU for West Virginia

Holgorsen will become the head coach-in-waiting for the Mountaineers.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:06 pm

By: News On 6

Dana Holgorsen Leaving OSU for West Virginia

Originally Published: Dec 15, 2010 5:37 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia – West Virginia University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Oliver Luck announced Wednesday that the Mountaineers have officially hired Dana Holgorsen.

Holgorsen is currently the offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State and was a finalist for the 2010 Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s best assistant. He will act as West Virginia’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach next season and is expected to take over as head coach in 2012.

The Mountaineers’ current head coach, Bill Stewart, announced earlier that he plans to step down after the 2011 season. Holgorsen will take over after Stewart’s departure.

Holgorsen previously coached at Houston and Texas Tech before joining OSU, and at all three stops his offenses were among the best in the nation. This season, the Cowboys were among the top three in the country in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense.

West Virginia finished in a tie for the Big East title this season, but lost the tiebreaker to Connecticut, which will face Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Holgorsen’s specialty is in the passing game, which West Virginia will need. The Mountaineers have historically struggled in the passing game; in the last seven years, they have finished outside the top 85 in the nation in passing six times.

"We appreciate everything Dana did for Oklahoma State during his time in Stillwater," OSU head coach Mike Gundy said in a statement. "We certainly wish him success at West Virgina."