Gibson named Defensive Coordinator, Bradley hired

Holgorsen Adds Bradley to WVU Football Staff

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (February 21, 2014) ? West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen has announced the hiring of Tom Bradley as the Senior Associate Head Football Coach. Holgorsen will designate Bradley's defensive coaching position at a later time.

"Tom brings numerous years of successful college coaching experience and versatility," Holgorsen said. "He is an excellent defensive teacher, has high energy and intensity and gives us a proven recruiter with regional and national ties. I look forward to Tom joining the Mountaineer family, and I know he will work extremely well with Tony (Gibson), our defense coordinator. The two have known each other for quite some time and share many of the same philosophies. We have put together a strong defensive staff under Tony's leadership."

Bradley, nicknamed "Scrap", brings 33 years of coaching experience, all at Penn State, including defensive coordinator from 2000-2011 and serving the final four games as the interim head coach. He helped the Nittany Lions finish with 13 double-figure win seasons, 20 seasons with at least nine wins and 26 bowl appearances, including the 1982 and the 1996 national championships.

"I am truly excited to join the West Virginia football program," Bradley said. "I want to thank Coach Dana Holgorsen and Oliver Luck for this tremendous opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and success of the Mountaineer football program. Tony Gibson and I have recruited against each other in Pennsylvania for a lot of years, and it will be good to finally be on his side. I look forward to working with my friend to build a strong defensive unit at West Virginia.

"It has always been my primary goal as a coach and educator to help the student athletes succeed on the football field, but more importantly as students and future graduates. I look forward to meeting the team, coaches, support staff, faculty, administration and West Virginia alumni. West Virginia has a great history and tradition, and I am honored to be a part of its future. "

Bradley played a large role in the success of the defense and recruiting efforts during his tenure. He has coached six positions, including defensive ends, outside linebackers and defensive backs, coordinated the special teams and served as recruiting coordinator, bringing numerous prep standouts to Penn State throughout his tenure.

During the 2011 season, the Penn State defense ranked in the Top 20 nationally in four of the primary categories, including scoring (5th, 16.8 ppg), pass efficiency defense (6th, 107.2), pass (17th, 190.6 ypg) and total defense (20th, 323.9 ypg).

From 2004-09, he guided the defense to six consecutive Top 15 finishes in total and scoring defense. The 2008 unit was one of only four nationally to rank in the Top 10 in rushing, total and scoring defense and lead the Big Ten in rushing and total defense.

In 2005, Bradley was named one of the Top 10 recruiters in the nation by SportsIllustrated.com. That year, his defense was one of only five in the nation to finish in the Top 20 in rushing (7th, 93.0 ypg), pass efficiency, total and scoring defense (10th, 17.0 ppg) and had three All-Americans. He coached Alan Zemaitis to first-team All-Big Ten honors and second team All-American distinction.

The 2004 defense ranked in the Top 10 nationally in total, scoring and pass defense and was the only one in the country to not allow more than 21 points in a game.

The 2002 defense produced two All-Americans and first-round NFL Draft choices and ranked No. 11 nationally at 17.5 ppg.

Bradley coached safety James Boyd, who earned third-team All-America honors in 2000, cornerback David Macklin, who earned first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America accolades in 1998, safety Kim Herring to first-team All-America honors and cornerback Brian Miller to All-Big Ten first-team honors in 1996.

As special teams' coordinator, one of his prized pupils was O.J. McDuffie, who earned school records in punt returns and yards and was a first-round NFL Draft choice of the Miami Dolphins.

Another of his top students was Shane Conlan, a two-time All-American, who played in the NFL for nine years.

Bradley was a member of the Penn State football team, earning letters in 1977 and '78. The Johnstown, Pa., native, earned his bachelor's degree in business in 1979 and his master's degree in sports administration in 1986, both from Penn State. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1979 and became a full-time staff member in 1980.

After his tenure at Penn State, Bradley worked on the Pittsburgh Steelers Broadcast Network and as a Clear Channel Radio analyst. In 2013, he joined the CBS Sports Network broadcast team and made his debut for the network as an analyst for Army football games.

Gibson Named Defensive Coordinator

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (February 21, 2014) ? West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen has announced that Mountaineer assistant coach Tony Gibson has been promoted to defensive coordinator. Holgorsen will announce the defensive staff positions at a later time.

"Tony has worked in the Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 and now the Big 12, and has coached against a lot of different schemes and offenses during his time at the major college level. He is more than ready to take this next step and coordinate our defense," Holgorsen said. "He is a great evaluator of talent, and Tony is a West Virginia guy who works hard to bring success and good things to this program. I know he will put every ounce of his energy into the job."

Gibson began his second stint in Morgantown in January 2013 and already has reaped rewards on the recruiting trail, re-opening the pipeline between Pittsburgh and Morgantown. Three players from the Pittsburgh area signed with the Mountaineers in the 2014 signing class, including the top ranked player in the state of Pennsylvania. During the 2013, he also coached two All-Big 12 Conference performers, Darwin Cook and Karl Joseph. Cook also was one of the team's permanent captains and was named the team's defensive most valuable player.

He returned to WVU after serving as the assistant head coach, safeties coach and defensive special teams' coordinator at Arizona during the 2012 season. The Wildcats finished 8-5 overall and won the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. He spent the 2011 season as the secondary coach and pass defense coordinator at Pitt. The Panthers made their fourth straight bowl appearance, and two of Gibson's pupils were named to Big East all-conference teams. He was responsible for recruiting Rushel Shell to Pitt, the top running back in the nation.

Gibson served as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at Michigan from 2008-10. He added special teams' coordinator to his duties in 2010. During his time in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines earned a berth in the Gator Bowl in 2011 and one of his cornerbacks, Donovan Warren, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. Gibson was responsible for securing the services of Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Denard Robinson, one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation.

He coached defensive backs under Rich Rodriguez from 2001 to 2007 at West Virginia, and was recruiting coordinator his final season in Morgantown. The Mountaineers enjoyed one of their most successful periods on the gridiron, posting a 58-14 record in his final six years on staff and earning a then school record six straight bowl appearances, including two BCS bowl games.

Eight of his players earned all-Big East honors and six of his players were selected in the NFL Draft. His secondary standouts at WVU included first team All-American Adam Jones, who has played with the Titans, Cowboys and Bengals during his eight-year NFL career.

The Mountaineers won or shared four Big East titles during Gibson's time in Morgantown, capturing BCS bowl victories following the 2005 (Sugar Bowl) and 2007 (Fiesta Bowl) seasons. He recruited 32 players on the 2005 team that won the Big East Championship and Sugar Bowl, and secured 40 players who were on the 2007 Big East and Fiesta Bowl championship squad.

Gibson began his career at Glenville State under Rodriguez in 1996, coaching defensive backs and the kickoff teams.

In 1997 and '98, Gibson worked at Cumberland (Tenn.) University, coordinating the program's special teams and recruitment in addition to mentoring the team's defensive backs. His career then carried him to West Virginia Tech, where he spent two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (1999-2000), before arriving at West Virginia.

Gibson graduated from Glenville State in 1994. He was a defensive back from 1991-94 and was a part of two WVIAC championship teams.

The Van, W.Va., native began his coaching career at Gilmer County High School in Glenville, W.Va., in 1995,where he was head coach and interim athletic director.

He and his wife, Kerry, have two children, son Cody, who plays football at West Virginia Wesleyan, and daughter, Ashton.