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WVU hires cornerbacks coach
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The first of three additions to Dana Holgorsen's coaching staff at West Virginia was made official this morning.
Brian Mitchell, a former NFL cornerback who spent the past three years at East Carolina, will coach the cornerbacks, according to a release the university issued.
"Brian is an excellent addition to the West Virginia football staff and has a wealth of experience as a cornerbacks coach," Holgorsen said. "He brings a lot of energy, is an aggressive recruiter, and I have seen him develop young players into great players. He is an outstanding coach and even better person, and I look forward to him joining our program."
WVU also is vetting two other hires the Post-Gazette reported over the last several days: Tony Gibson, a longtime assistant of Rich Rodriguez, and Lonnie Galloway, who served with the late Bill Stewart as receivers coach.
Mitchell will be tasked with improving a group of young corners who struggled against the prolific passing offenses of the Big 12 Conference this past season.
"It's an honor to be associated with a program that has a great winning tradition such as West Virginia," Mitchell said. "I believe the fans are second to none; the state is second to none. It is a privilege to earn the right to go through this process to be a part of this family.
"It's a natural fit for me, coaching cornerbacks, because I played the position at all three levels, in high school, college and in the NFL."
Holgorsen let two assistants go during the past two months -- cornerbacks coach Daron Roberts and longtime program veteran Steve Dunlap, who handled outside linebackers and special teams.
Quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital left last week to take the same position at Texas A&M.
First Published January 15, 2013 11:28 am
