It's official: Dana Holgorsen leaves WVU for Houston
Dana Holgorsen officially left West Virginia after eight seasons on Wednesday when he was named head coach at the University of Houston.
Holgorsen was the Cougars’ offensive coordinator during the 2008-2009 seasons. He will be introduced at a news conference at 2 p.m. Thursday.
“I want to thank coach Holgorsen for his eight years at West Virginia,” West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons said in a statement. “We wish him and his family all the best at the University of Houston.
“Our national search for his replacement has already begun, and I know it will be a successful one. A proven record of competitive success, a passion for the student-athlete, emphasis on academics and a strong work ethic are among the qualities that I will be looking for in our next head coach.
“We will move quickly to bring him to Morgantown to continue our strong winning tradition and solidify our place in the Big 12 and on the national scene. We are looking forward to this new and exciting era of Mountaineer football.”
Holgorsen is the second-most winningest coach in WVU history, finishing with a 61-41 record and seven bowl appearances. His 61 victories trail only College Football Hall of Famer Don Nehlen at WVU.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dana back to Houston as the next leader of our football program. His offensive acumen with an emphasis on student-athlete development, on and off the field, is a perfect fit for our program, University and city,” said Houston Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman. “We are looking forward to Dana connecting with our student-athletes and taking over a program that is primed for continued success at the highest level.”
“I’m beyond excited for the opportunity to return to Houston and lead this program,” Holgorsen said. “This city and the University of Houston have unlimited potential and I am honored to be a part of it. I look forward to meeting our student-athletes and establishing a culture that thrives on championship competition, on and off the field.”
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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