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Officially Announced
Zac Alley – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Zac Alley was named West Virginia University’s assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach on December 29, 2024, by head coach Rich Rodriguez. Alley brings a wealth of defensive expertise, having worked with Rodriguez at multiple stops and earned recognition as one of the top young defensive coordinators in college football.
Alley joined WVU from Oklahoma, where he served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2024. Under his guidance, the Sooners’ defense ranked among the nation’s best, including No. 3 in defensive touchdowns, No. 5 in fumbles recovered, No. 10 in team tackles for loss, and No. 19 in total defense. Linebacker Danny Stutsman earned NCAA Consensus All-American honors, leading Oklahoma with 110 tackles and eight tackles for loss.
Prior to Oklahoma, Alley coordinated Jacksonville State’s defense for two seasons (2022-23), leading the Gamecocks to a 9-4 record in 2023, including a New Orleans Bowl victory. The 2023 defense ranked in the top 15 nationally in multiple categories, including opponent yards per rush (No. 4), tackles for loss yardage (No. 8), turnovers gained (No. 9), and rushing defense (No. 15). In his first season at Jax State, Alley’s defense helped secure a 9-2 record and the Atlantic Sun Conference championship.
In 2021, Alley became the youngest defensive coordinator in FBS at age 27 when he took over the defense at Louisiana-Monroe. Under his leadership, the Warhawks improved dramatically, highlighted by a jump from No. 125 to No. 69 nationally in rushing defense.
Alley’s coaching experience also includes two seasons (2019-20) at Boise State as co-special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, where he helped the Broncos to a 17-4 record. FootballScoop.com recognized him as one of the special teams coordinators of the year in 2020.
From 2015-18, Alley served as a graduate assistant at Clemson, contributing to a dominant defensive unit during a stretch that included four ACC titles and two national championships (2016, 2018). He also gained NFL experience as a defensive coaching intern with the Carolina Panthers in 2017.
A Clemson graduate, Alley earned his bachelor’s degree in business management in 2014 and his master’s degree in human resource development in 2017.
Chad Scott – Running Backs
Chad Scott is the running backs coach on the Mountaineer Football staff. He has been on the WVU staff since 2019, overseeing the running backs. He also served as the offensive coordinator for 2023-24, and was the co-offensive coordinator for his first three seasons, and the run-game coordinator in 2022.
In 2024, the WVU rushing offense was among the best in the nation, ranking No. 9 among Power Four. Jahiem White, CJ Donaldson Jr. and Garrett Greene were one of the two FBS backfields to each rush for more than 600 yards in the regular season. The offense produced 10 games of more than 140 yards rushing and five with more than 200 yards, including three of the last five games. Since 2022, the Mountaineers have produced 140 or more rushing yards in 26 of 28 games.
West Virginia finished with 2,976 rushing yards in 2023, ranking No. 1 among Power Five schools. In Big 12 games, WVU was the only school to finish with more than 2,000 rushing yards (2,211), led the league in rushing yards per game (245.67) and tied for No. 1 in rushing touchdowns (24).
In 2022, West Virginia’s running game averaged 171.5 yards per game as Scott built a strong unit of depth and consistency. Running backs Tony Mathis Jr., Justin Johnson Jr., Donaldson and Jaylen Anderson combined for 1,793 yards and 18 touchdowns.
In 2021, running back Leddie Brown finished with more than 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight season (1,065) and a team-high 14 offensive touchdowns.
In 2020, the Mountaineers had the most improved offense in the country in terms of total yards. Their running game improved production by more than 60 yards per game, more than 90yards of total offense and almost seven points a game.
Scott also served stints at North Carolina (TE/Hybrids/2016-18), Kentucky (RB/2013-14), Texas Tech (RB/2010-12) and Troy (RB/2007-09).
In 2018, the Tar Heel offense ranked No. 31 nationally in total offense, averaging 442.1 yards per game.
He spent three seasons at Texas Tech from 2010-12, with his running backs making a significant contributions to the offense. The Red Raiders rushed for 135.7 yards per game and scored 52 rushing touchdowns during his three seasons. TTU’s primary running backs averaged 5.0 yards per attempt. In 2012, Tech averaged 139.9 yards per game rushing with three backs each rushing for more than 400 yards
At Troy from 2007-09, Scott helped lead the Trojans to three consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championships and a pair of appearances in the New Orleans Bowl.
A native of Plant City, Florida, Scott began his collegiate playing career at Kentucky before transferring to North Carolina, where he lettered in 2003 and 2005. He earned first-team All-ACC honors from ESPN.com after rushing for 796 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. Scott made his first career start as a Tar Heel against No. 4 Miami and rushed for a career-high 175 yards on 25 carries and scored twice in a 31-28 victory.
Scott spent time in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers before returning to his alma mater in 2006 as a graduate assistant video analyst.
He graduated from UNC in 2004 with a degree in sociology. He is married to the former Shambrica Jones, who played basketball at Kentucky. The couple has a daughter, Kori, and a son, Jakobe.
Blaine Stewart – Inside Receivers
Blaine Stewart is in his third year on the Mountaineer coaching staff, including the first two years as the tight ends coach and currently his first as the inside receivers coach.
Stewart coached the tight ends at WVU for the past two years. One of his players, Kole Taylor, finished his final year in 2024 and was a two-time All-Big 12 Conference honoree, including second-team honors in 2023.
He came to West Virginia in 2023 from the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, where he worked as the assistant wide receivers coach for three years. He assisted a wide receivers room in 2020 that included rookie Chase Claypool, who led all NFL rookies in touchdown catches (9) and finished second among all rookies in total touchdowns (11).
From 2018-22, Stewart was a coaching assistant on Mike Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh, and he brought a total of five years of NFL experience with him to Morgantown.
In his first two NFL seasons, he worked with the offense and special teams and was responsible for quality control of the entire offensive unit. He coached the defensive scout team, compiled weekly offensive installation plans and produced opponent scouting reports.
During his five seasons with Pittsburgh, the Steelers were the AFC North Champions in 2020 and made the playoffs twice. He coached three Pro Bowl receivers in Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson.
In January 2020, Stewart coached the West quarterbacks at the East-West Shrine Bowl, leading individual meetings and being involved in all aspects of offensive installation, game planning and practice schedules.
Stewart started his collegiate playing career at JMU (2013-15) as a wide receiver and holder for coaches Mickey Matthews and Everett Withers. He finished his playing career at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) in 2016-17 where he was coached by former Mountaineer football staff member Pat Kirkland. He earned two varsity letters at each school.
He received his bachelor’s degree from JMU in 2016 and a master’s degree from Charleston in 2017. Stewart played high school football at Morgantown High School for coach John Bowers and captained the 2013 West Virginia OVAC All-Stars who defeated the Ohio OVAC All-Stars at Wheeling Island Stadium. While at MHS, Stewart also played baseball and ran track.
He is the son of the late West Virginia head football coach Bill Stewart, who led the Mountaineers to a 28-12 (.700) three-year record from 2008-10. His mother, Karen, still resides in Morgantown.
Ryan Garrett – Outside Receivers
Ryan Garrett is in his first year as the wide receivers coach on the Mountaineer football coaching staff.
Garrett joins WVU coach Rich Rodriguez's staff for the third time. He first became a member of his staff as a graduate assistant coach at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021, before serving as the wide receivers coach at Jacksonville State in 2022.
In 2024, he helped lead the Gamecocks to a 9-5 record, the Conference USA championship and a spot in a second straight bowl game. The JSU offense finished No. 4 in FBS in rushing, No. 6 in first-down offense, No. 8 in passing yards per completion, No. 11 in scoring offense and No. 21 in total offense.
Garrett’s top receiver, Cam Vaughn, finished with 49 catches for 804 yards and five touchdowns, ranking No. 3 in CUSA in yards per reception, No. 6 in receiving yards, No. 8 in touchdown receptions and No. 9 in catches.
The Gamecocks made history during the 2023 season, posting a 9-4 record during their first season at the FBS level and winning the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Perry Carter earned All-Conference USA Honorable Mention honors after leading the Gamecocks in receiving.
Carter averaged 17.74 yards per catch during the regular season, which was third in CUSA. He finished the year with 672 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
In Garrett’s first season at Jax State in 2022, he helped guide the Gamecocks to a 9-2 record that included a 5-0 mark in conference play and the 2022 ASUN Conference title. The Gamecocks had one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, ranking No. 5 nationally in yards per reception and No. 10 in scoring offense. Fourteen different Gamecocks caught at least one pass in 2022, while nine of those found the end zone at least once.
In 2021, he helped the Warhawks head coach and former Mountaineer Terry Bowden lay the foundation for a turnaround of their program after they inherited a team that had gone winless the season before.
Garrett spent the 2020 season as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach at West Virginia State under coach John Pennington, a former receiver for Rodriguez at WVU.
He started his coaching career at Ole Miss, where he began as a student assistant and eventually served as an offensive graduate assistant working with the Rebels’ quarterbacks under Rodriguez in 2019. That season, the Rebels ranked third in total offense in the SEC, averaging 445.3 yards per game, behind only Alabama and LSU.
Garrett graduated from North Henderson High School (Hendersonville, N.C.) where he was captain of the football team and was named all-conference as a wide receiver. He played college of Emory & Henry College (Virginia) for a year before transferring to Ole Miss and entering the coaching profession.
William Green – Defensive Line
William Green is in his first year as the defensive line coach on the Mountaineer football coaching staff.
Green rejoins Rodriguez and defensive coordinator Zac Alley after spending time on their staffs at Jacksonville State and Louisiana Monroe.
In 2024, he helped lead Jax State to a 9-5 record, the Conference USA championship and a spot in a second straight bowl game. The defense finished No. 5 nationally in fumbles recovered, No. 10 in red zone defense, No. 15 in turnovers gained and No. 22 in turnover margin. The Gamecocks were No. 2 in Conference USA in tackles for loss, No. 3 in sacks and No. 4 in rushing defense. Defensive end J-Rock Swain was named All-Conference USA second-team.
Three defensive linemen made the All-Conference USA lists in 2023 as the Gamecocks led the league in sacks with 39 during a 9-4 season, which saw the program win its first FBS Bowl Game in its initial year of FBS play.
The Gamecocks posted a 9-2 record in 2022 that included a 5-0 record in ASUN play and a conference championship. His defensive line played a huge role in the nation’s No. 12 red-zone defense, as well as a unit that led the nation with 15 fumble recoveries.
Green helped Alley guide the ULM defense in 2020, when his defensive line set the tone for a rushing defense that improved 56 spots in the FBS national rankings the year before.
Prior to going to ULM, Green turned in his first stint at Jax State and coached the Gamecocks’ defensive line and was also the run game coordinator. In four seasons, JSU went 28-13 (.683), including an 18-6 record (.750) in Ohio Valley Conference games, won back-to-back league titles in 2017-18 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision those same two seasons.
Prior to being hired as JSU’s defensive line coach in 2017, Green was a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Florida, in 2016 after serving as a graduate assistant with the Gamecocks in 2014 and 2015.
Green played for the Gators from 2008-11, seeing action in 53 games. He recorded 53 tackles, 11 for loss, 2.5 sacks and a career-best 21 tackles in his senior season. He was a member of Florida’s national championship team as a freshman in 2008.
Green prepped at Spain Park High School in Hoover, where he was an All-American linebacker and defensive end for John Grass and the Jaguars in 2007.
Green was also an all-state first-team selection and named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Super 12 Team in a senior season that saw him register 114 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery in SPHS’s AHSAA Class 6A runner-up season before signing with Florida.
Following his playing days at Florida, Green went to training camp with the Cleveland Browns and then played in the Arena Football League.
Michael Nysewander – Tight Ends
Michael Nysewander is in his second season as the Tight Ends and Inside Receivers Coach on Rich Rodriguez’s staff at Jacksonville State.
Nysewander made an immediate impact in his first season with the Gamecocks in 2023, helping guide the team to a historic 9-4 record in its first year at the FBS level, capped off by a victory in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Tight end Sean Brown was a standout under Nysewander’s guidance, earning Second-Team All-Conference USA honors and a spot on the John Mackey Award watch list. Brown excelled as both a blocker in Jax State’s prolific rushing attack and a receiver, hauling in 19 passes with five touchdowns.
Nysewander joined the Gamecocks after spending three seasons at Ole Miss, where he served as Senior Analyst under head coach Lane Kiffin. During his time with the Rebels, the program appeared in three bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl in 2021, when Ole Miss posted a 10-win season.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Nysewander is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in communication studies. As an H-Back and Tight End for the Crimson Tide, he was part of three National Championship teams and multiple SEC Championship squads under Nick Saban. Lane Kiffin served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator during Nysewander’s time there (2014-16).
Nicknamed “Highway 46” for his ability to create running lanes for backs like Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, Nysewander was known for his relentless work ethic and team-first mentality. After college, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie free agent.
Nysewander began his coaching career at Samford as the Bulldogs’ running backs coach before joining Kiffin’s staff at Florida Atlantic in 2017. He later followed Kiffin to Ole Miss, continuing his ascent in the coaching ranks.
Nysewander’s combination of playing and coaching experience at the highest levels of college football has made him a valuable asset to the Gamecocks’ staff as they continue to build on their success.
Jack Bicknell Jr. - Offensive Line Coach
Jack Bicknell Jr. joined the Mountaineer football coaching staff as the offensive line coach in January 2025.
He rejoins Rodriguez as a member of his staff after the two worked together at Ole Miss in 2019. Bicknell has more than 35 years of experience coaching offensive lines at the collegiate and NFL levels and comes to WVU after serving as the offensive line coach at Wisconsin in 2023.
Prior to his time at Wisconsin, he oversaw the North Carolina offensive line in 2022, helping lead the Tar Heels to a 9-4 mark in the regular season, a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game and an appearance in the Holiday Bowl. UNC ranked second in the ACC in total offense with 473.6 yards per game.
Bicknell spent the 2021 season at Louisville, leading an offensive line that helped the Cardinals rank No. 22 nationally and No. 3 in the ACC in rushing and No. 21 nationally in total offense. Louisville ranked first in the ACC in fewest sacks and tackles for loss allowed. Guard Caleb Chandler earned first-team All-ACC honors.
Prior to Louisville, he coached the offensive lines at Auburn and Ole Miss. He helped guide the Tigers to the Citrus Bowl and spent three years rebuilding the Rebels’ offense. In 2019 under Rodriguez as offensive coordinator, the Rebels were one of the top rushing teams in the nation, finishing second in the SEC and ninth in the country in rushing. The Rebels ranked No. 11 nationally in yards per carry and scored 29 rushing touchdowns. John Rhys Plumlee was No. 1 in the SEC and No. 8 nationally in quarterback rushing yards.
In 2017 and ’18, Bicknell’s offensive line helped Ole Miss quarterbacks lead the SEC in passing yards per game . In 2018 left tackle Greg Little earned first team All-SEC accolades before becoming the highest Rebel drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. The second team All-American was taken in the second round (37th overall) by the Carolina Panthers.
Prior to joining Ole Miss, Bicknell spent two seasons as assistant offensive line coach with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. In 2014, the Dolphins produced 361 first downs, tied for the second-most in franchise history and the most since 1985 when the team had the same amount. Despite missing the first four games of the season due to injury and making the switch to guard, Mike Pouncey was named to his second straight Pro Bowl in 2014. Tackle Ja'Wuan James became the eighth offensive lineman in Dolphins history to start all 16 games as a rookie, showing his versatility by starting nine games at right tackle and seven at left tackle en route to earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.
Bicknell came to Miami after spending the 2013 season as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While in Pittsburgh, Bicknell's unit helped running back Le'Veon Bell amass 1,259 yards from scrimmage, the most by a Steelers rookie.
Before joining the Steelers, Bicknell served as the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012, when he directed a unit that was instrumental in helping running back Jamaal Charles return to All-Pro form after an ACL injury cut short his 2011 season.
Bicknell began his NFL coaching career with the New York Giants in 2009 and was a member of a coaching staff that helped lead the franchise to its fourth Super Bowl title with a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Feb. 5, 2012. During the 2011 season, the Giants' line anchored an offense that finished fifth in the NFL in passing while only allowing 28 sacks.
Before his time in the NFL, Bicknell spent eight seasons as the head coach at Louisiana Tech (1999-2006), where his 43 victories ranked as the fourth-most in school history. Following the 2001 season, he was named WAC Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a conference championship in their first year of membership. Bicknell also served as the Bulldogs' offensive line coach from 1997-98.
Bicknell began his coaching career at his alma mater, Boston College, as a graduate assistant from 1985-86. Following his two seasons with the Eagles, Bicknell joined the staff at New Hampshire in 1987 and spent 10 seasons with the Wildcats coaching the defensive line (1987-92) before moving to the offensive line (1993-96). He returned to Boston College in 2007 as the Eagles' assistant head coach/offensive line coach for two seasons (2007-08) before joining the Giants in the NFL.
A three-year letterwinner as an offensive lineman, Bicknell played collegiately for his father, Jack, at Boston College from 1981-85 where he was the center for 1984 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Doug Flutie.
Bicknell comes from a family of coaches. His father, Jack, was the head coach at Boston College (1981-90) prior to becoming the head coach of the Barcelona Dragons (1991-03) of NFL Europe. His brother, Bob, has coached in NFL Europe, at the collegiate level and in the NFL.
Born in North Plainfield, New Jersey, Bicknell attended Orono (Maine) High School. He and his wife, Helen, have three children; John, Katelyn and Alyse.
Jeff Casteel - Bandits
Jeff Casteel has rejoined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the bandits coach. He is reunited with Rodriguez once again after serving as his defensive line coach in 2001, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2002 and defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2003-07 at West Virginia. He rejoined Rodriguez from 2012-16 as the defensive coordinator at Arizona.
Casteel most recently served as the senior defensive analyst and director of high school relations at WVU from March 2020 – June 2023.
Casteel has 35 years of defensive coaching experience, including 27 years as a coordinator. He has helped guide teams to 14 conference championships and 15 bowl appearances and has coached numerous All-Americans and professional players. He was named the Rivals Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2007, Big EastDefensive Coordinator of the Year in 2008, a Broyles Award nominee (five times) and the Football Scoop Linebacker Coach of the Year in 2014.
During his tenure at WVU, the Mountaineers experienced one of their greatest periods of success, including winning three BCS bowl games - 2006 Sugar Bowl, 2008 Fiesta Bowl and the 2012 Orange Bowl.
Casteel returned to West Virginia in 2020 after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Nevada for three years. In 2019, the Wolfpack finished 7-6 and earned a spot in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. In 2018, five of his starters earned All-Mountain West honors. From his first year to his second year, the Nevada defense improved from allowing 208.2 yards per game rushing to 142 and dropped the total defense from allowing 471.3 yards to 378.3 yards per game. Four of his players earned All-Mountain West Conference honors.
At Arizona, Casteel helped lead the Wildcats to the 2014 Pac-12 South championship and four bowl appearances, including the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. The defense aided in setting a school record for most wins over a four-year period.
While at WVU, the defense helped the WVU football program win six Big East Conference championships and produced four All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans, nine all-conference honorees and 23 professional players. The Mountaineers finished No. 3 in the nation in total defense in 2010, No. 7 in 2007 and No. 15 in 2005.
He also spent time at UTEP as the defensive ends coach (2000) and at Shepherd University, first as the defensive line and strength coach from 1988-90 and as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1991-2000.
Casteel earned his bachelor’s (1984) and master’s degrees (1986) from California University of Pennsylvania. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater from 1984-86, before becoming the defensive coordinator at Palmetto High School in Miami, Florida, and was a training camp assistant with the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League in 1989.
Casteel, and his wife, Rosemary, have two children, Jake, who will join his father on the Mountaineer coaching staff as a defensive analyst, and Sarah, a graduate of West Virginia.
Pat Kirkland - Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Assistant Coach
Pat Kirkland is entering his first year as the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant coach, marking the third time that Kirkland has worked with Rodriguez, having served on his staff at WVU in 2006 and 2007 and at Jacksonville State from 2022-2024.
Kirkland was the special teams’ coordinator and bandits coach under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State for three years.
In 2024, the Gamecocks special teams were ranked No. 2 in Conference USA in kickoff return and kick return defense, net punting, punt returns and punt return defense. The kick return defense was ranked No. 22 nationally and his punter, Jack Dawson, was ranked No. 17 nationally.
During the 2023 season, the Gamecocks averaged 62.1 yards per kickoff with 39 touchbacks. On defense, Jax State led Conference USA in sacks largely due to his Bandits group racking up 39 sacks in 13 games, resulting in 291 lost yards.
Kirkland’s move to Jacksonville translated into immediate success, helping the Gamecocks to a 9-2 record, including a perfect 5-0 conference record and the 2022 ASUN Conference Championship. His bandits room was led by J-Rock Swain, who earned All-ASUN First Team honors and helped the Gamecocks lead the country in fumbles recovered and to the 12th-best red zone defense in the nation.
His special teams units were also difference makers for Jax State in 2022, ranking fourth nationally in net punting, 10th in kickoff returns and seventh in blocked punts. Alen Karajic broke school records for scoring in a game by a kicker and for consecutive field goals made during the year, as well.
Kirkland’s resume includes 10 years of head coaching experience at the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia, where he led the Golden Eagles to a 70-41 record and runner-up finish in the Mountain East Conference six times, including his 2021 team that finished 8-2.
At Charleston, he coached 42 all-conference first team players, as well as numerous all-region and All-America selections. He had players earn Mountain East Conference Player of the Year honors on offense and defense, with his latest being running back Tyreik McAllister, the MEC’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
His 2015 team at Charleston finished 10-1 ranked No. 15 in the nation after earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. That team was also second nationally in total defense leading to Kirkland earning the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award at season’s end.
During the last four years at UC, Kirkland had nine players in NFL camps and two who were drafted, along with Reese’s Senior Bowl participant defensive lineman John Cominsky, who is currently a defensive end for the Detroit Lions.
Kirkland spent five seasons at WVU, spending time on both sides of the ball, with the majority coming on defense. He helped lead the Mountaineers to a win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl as the defensive secondary coach and led WVU to the Gator Bowl as the fullbacks and tight ends coach.
He also spent time as WVU’s director of recruiting.
Before his time at WVU, Kirkland was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Glenville State, where his defense was consistently one of the best in the nation.
A native of Akron, Ohio, Kirkland also spent two years as the secondary coach at Muskingum, where he had four all-conference players in the secondary.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Muskingum, where he was a first-team all-conference defensive back after leading the league in interceptions.
Rod West - Cornerbacks
West is entering his first season as the cornerbacks coach on the Mountaineer football staff.
He came to WVU from Appalachian State where he spent the last four years as the cornerbacks coach. He added the title of defensive passing game coordinator in 2022. During his time in Boone, he helped the Mountaineers win a pair of Sun Belt East titles and secure a win over No. 6 Texas A&M in 2022.
A fast riser in the coaching profession, West was named to the 2021 American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 list.
In 2024, the App State defense finished No. 13 in fourth-down defense, No. 27 nationally in fumble recovered and No. 35 in first down defense.
West had a pair of All-Sun Belt cornerbacks in 2023, as Tyrek Funderburk earned All-American Second-Team recognition by Action Network and also was an All-Sun Belt first-team performer. He finished with four interceptions, including two returns for touchdowns. Ethan Johnson, the other starting cornerback, was named All-Sun Belt Second-Team.
Under West in 2021, Steven Jones Jr. was an All-American first-team honoree at cornerback, and Shaun Jolly joined Jones as an All-Sun Belt first-team selection.
App State ranked in the top 15 nationally with 15 interceptions, as Jones tied for the FBS lead with five during the regular season, including three pick-sixes.
The following year, Jones also earned All-America honorable mention honors before receiving an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. App State newcomer Dexter Lawson Jr. had a team-high three interceptions before moving on to the CFL.
Before arriving in Boone, West spent the three previous three-plus seasons on staff at Richmond, including serving as co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach starting with the 2022 spring season.
In 2019, West served as the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, helping Richmond finish first in the CAA in passing defense at 194.8 yards per game. West spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as Richmond’s dimes coach and was also the co-special teams coordinator in 2018. The Spiders’ 2017 squad finished fifth in the CAA in passing defense at 197.7 yards per game.
West began his coaching career in 2009 at Kentucky Christian. He also had stints at Division II national runner-up Delta State (2010), Texas A&M-Commerce (2011-12) and Morehead State (2013-14).He coached at Chattanooga from 2015-16, serving as the cornerbacks/dimes coach as well as recruiting coordinator.
A native of Selma, Alabama, West played at Alabama State from 2005-08 and was a two-year starting defensive back. He was a member of the Dean’s List his final three years and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2009.
He and his wife, Marcie, were married in 2013. They have one daughter, Maya, and one son, Major. Marcie was a three-time All-American volleyball player at Florida and played in four NCAA Tournaments from 2004-07.
Rhett Rodriguez - Quarterbacks
Rhett Rodriguez, a former college quarterback with playing and coaching experience, mostly recently served as an offensive analyst at Jacksonville State under his father, head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Rodriguez began his playing career at Arizona (2017-2020), where he appeared in 11 games over four seasons, primarily as a backup quarterback. He transferred to Louisiana Monroe in 2021, reuniting with his father, who was the Warhawks’ offensive coordinator. Despite suffering a punctured lung that sidelined him for six games, Rodriguez started five games for ULM, completing 70-of-137 passes for 799 yards and four touchdowns while guiding the Warhawks to an upset victory over Troy.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in entrepreneurship from Arizona, Rodriguez transitioned into coaching after a short time out of the game. He joined Jacksonville State in 2024, assisting with quarterback development and in-game communication during the Gamecocks' games.
Rodriguez’s unique experience as both a player and coach, along with his knowledge of his father’s offensive system, provides valuable insight to Jacksonville State’s staff.
Derek Dressler - Assistant Offensive Line Coach
Derek Dressler has joined the Mountaineer football staff as the assistant offensive line coach in January 2025..
He arrives from Jacksonville State where he served as the assistant offensive line coach. In his three seasons, the Gamecocks' offense had three all-conference linemen, the No. 5 FCS rushing offense in 2022 (251.0) and the No. 3 FBS rushing offense in 2023 (236.7) and 2024 (251.2).
Dressler played offensive line for Concord University from 2015-2018. During his career, he earned All-Mountain East Conference First Team as a senior and Second Team as a junior. As a senior, he was named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Region Third Team after starting all 11 games at center and not missing any of Concord's 684 offensive plays during the season. He was a member of a Mountain Lion offense that averaged more than 27 points per game.
Prior to Jacksonville State, he had a brief stint at his alma mater as the offensive line coach, run game coordinator and tight ends run game coach.
Dressler also had stops at Bryant University as the interior offensive line coach, offensive graduate assistant and video coordinator, and at West Virgnia State University as a graduate assistant coach, head equipment manager and video coordinator before being promoted to defensive line coach in 2020.
He graduated with honors from Concord in December 2018 with a bachelor of science degree in recreation and tourism management, earned his master's degree in sport studies from West Virginia State University in May 2021 and a master of science in sport management from Jacksonville State in August 2023.
Gabe Franklin - Safeties Coach
Gabe Franklin is in his first year as the safeties coach on the Mountaineer football coaching staff.
A four-year letterwinner and three-time all-league cornerback at Boise State, Franklin had a successful tenure at his alma mater where he served as the safeties coach in 2016 and oversaw the nickels starting in 2019. He was with the Broncos for five seasons and helped the defense improve immediately. In his debut season, the Bronco defense allowed just 23.3 points per game, a mark that ranked No. 29 nationally. That number dropped to 22.9 points allowed per game in 2017 and 22.1 points per game in 2018. During his time at Boise, four safeties earned All-Mountain West honors.
Prior to coming to West Virginia, Franklin served in various roles around the Mansfield, Texas, community, including founding F4 Sports Academy and teaching high school business while coaching football and soccer at Timberview High.
He also spent five seasons at UTEP, where he served as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He joined the UTEP staff as cornerbacks coach in 2011 before being elevated to defensive backs coach in 2013 and recruiting coordinator in 2014. In his final two seasons there, the Miners' secondary combined for 72 pass breakups.
Franklin began his coaching career at Bishop O'Dowd High School, his prep alma mater, in Oakland, California, in 2007. The following season, he joined the staff at California as an administrative assistant on the defensive side, a role in which he served for two seasons before a one-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at San Diego in 2010.
Franklin finished his career in Boise as the NCAA's all-time leader in passes defended (72) and tied for fourth in Western Athletic Conference history with 18 interceptions, just two behind the all-time leaders. His 18 picks also rank tied for fourth in Boise State history.
He was a three-time All-WAC selection, being named to the conference's second team from 2002-03 before cracking the first team in 2004 after four interceptions, 17 pass breakups and 61 tackles. During his career, Boise State went 44-7, won three conference titles and a pair of bowl games.
Following his collegiate career, Franklin signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL's San Diego Chargers in 2005. He also had stints with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, and played for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe in 2007.
Franklin graduated with his bachelor's degree in psychology from Boise State in 2004 and earned his master's degree in business administration from North Texas in 2023.
He and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Addison and Emery, and two sons, Aiden and Evan.
Travis Trickett – Senior Offensive Assistant
Travis Trickett returned to WVU in January 2025 as the senior offensive assistant on the Mountaineer coaching staff.
He spent time on the Mountaineer football staff from 2019-21 as tight ends and inside receivers coach before becoming the offensive coordinator at USF. He spent the last two seasons at Coastal Carolina as offensive coordinator.
He helped the Chanticleers to an 8-5 record and a bowl win in 2023. Coastal ranked 19th in the nation in completion percentage and 23rd in team passing efficiency.
Trickett went to Coastal after serving one season at South Florida as the Bulls’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022. In his lone season, he oversaw improvement in the Bulls’ offensive production despite guiding an offense that had a first-year primary ball carrier, three different starting quarterbacks and 14 members of the two-deep miss all or parts of the season.
Trickett orchestrated major improvements at USF in total offense, rushing offense, scoring offense, third-down conversions, red-zone conversions, pass efficiency and passing touchdowns.
During his three years at West Virginia, the Mountaineer offense improved each year, and he mentored Winston Wright at receiver and Mike O’Laughlin at tight end. In 2020, the Mountaineers had one of the most improved offenses in the nation in terms of total yards, showing gains of more than 60 yards rushing per game, 30 yards passing, more than 90 yards of total offense and seven more points per game in a 6-4 season that finished with a win in the Liberty Bowl.
Prior to West Virginia, Trickett was the offensive coordinator at Georgia State (2017-18), where he helped the Panthers finish with a school-record seven wins and their first winning season at the FBS level. In 2016 as Florida Atlantic’s offensive coordinator, his unit set FAU season records for rushing yards, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. He worked at Samford from 2011-15 and coached three different positions, became the offensive coordinator and helped the Bulldogs to five straight winning seasons, a Southern Conference championship and NCAA FCS playoff berth in 2013.
Trickett started his coaching career as a student assistant at West Virginia from 2003-06 before spending a year as a graduate assistant at Alabama and two years as graduate assistant at Florida State, working on the coaching staffs of Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher, Nick Saban and Rich Rodriquez in his young career.
A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Trickett earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from West Virginia in 2007 and his master’s degree from Florida State in sports administration in 2009.
Trickett, and his wife, Tiffany, also a WVU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, have three children, Maverick, Camilla and Holden.
Football Operations and Support Staff
While much of the focus remains on on-field coaching hires, building a strong football operations team and support staff is just as critical. This includes positions and roles like Director of Football Operations, analysts, and strength staff.
@ Officially Hired
*Currently working at WVU, though not yet officially announced
+Has accepted a position at WVU
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