Morgantown, West Virginia – Following another disappointing 5-7 season in 2022 and a 22-25 record in four seasons with the West Virginia Mountaineers, head coach Neal Brown is officially on the hot seat entering 2023, according to ESPN.
Brown is the only head coach in the conference who is listed on the hot seat in an article called “College Football Coaching Hot Seat and Retirement Watch for 2023″ by ESPN Senior Writer Adam Rittenberg.
Rittenberg had the following to say about Brown: “Brown will enter the fall in a similar position as coaches on the hot seat in 2022. He has a chance to change the trajectory in Morgantown, but it had better happen quickly. WVU fired Shane Lyons, the athletic director who hired Brown, in mid-November and focused on landing a replacement rather than a full-scale overhaul. New AD Wren Baker, a respected administrator in the Group of 5 ranks, will have a chance to evaluate Brown, who has two five-win seasons and two six-win seasons as Mountaineers head coach.
WVU’s offense surprisingly has been the main obstacle for Brown, who will turn to Chad Scott, promoted from running backs coach to coordinator, as the unit’s third playcaller in as many seasons. The team ranks 91st nationally in scoring and 107th in yards per play under Brown. The schedule will be an area to watch as WVU faces two Power 5 opponents in nonleague play (Penn State and Pitt) plus the Big 12 slate.”
In addition to his difficult non-conference schedule, West Virginia likely has the most challenging Big 12 schedule as well. Although Neal Brown has managed to hang onto his job for four seasons, it is time for him to win now and it will be under the most challenging circumstances possible.
