Debates about the “worst coach” in West Virginia football history have flared up for years, but after Neal Brown’s six-year tenure, the conversation feels settled. Records alone don’t tell the whole story, but when you step back and consider the state of the program before and after his time in Morgantown, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion: Brown left WVU worse than he found it, and may go down as the most damaging coach in Mountaineer history.
A Good Man, A Bad Coach
Before I go down this rabbit hole, I want to say that Neal Brown genuinely seems like a very good man. A loving father and husband, a man of faith and all around a very likeable guy I’m sure I’d enjoy sharing a beer with. I truly hope his career rebounds and he finds his way back to success in the coaching ranks. This article isn’t meant to kick someone when they’re down, it’s meant to highlight how far WVU fell under Neal Brown and put a focus on the fact that likeability and perception do not excuse accountability. That accountability I’m referring to during Neal Browns tenure doesn’t just lie with him, it also lies with Shane Lyons, Gordon Gee, and the entire press corps that covered WVU’s program during his tenure.
Administrative Failure
Shane Lyons and Gordon Gee extending Browns contract without significant results will go down as one of the biggest administrative blunders in program history, and ultimately cost Shane Lyons his job. The extension and substantial buyout tethered WVU to mediocrity with its inability to fire Brown when it was clear he needed to go. The incapacity to part ways with Brown earlier cost us several good options to replace him, 2 Backyard Brawls, and what should have been an exciting reignition of the Penn State rivalry.
Media Complicity
The WVU “approved” press corps are just as responsible for dragging out Neal Browns tenure, supporting the “climb” narrative, and not holding him accountable. Time and time again, Brown was given lay up questions and not challenged on some of his terrible decision making. I watched every single press conference and I never heard a reporter call Brown out or challenge him. Sticking with Doege as QB, the disastrous calls that led to the 2 Pitt loses, the Hail Mary at Houston – the list goes on. Brown was NEVER challenged by anyone in the room; it was pathetic and shameful to watch. You have to wonder why these reporters wouldn’t do their job and ask the tough questions. Was it because the University knew there was no out from Brown and they were told to tow the line? Keep in mind, if you do something the program doesn’t agree with – they don’t have to give you a reason to revoke your media privileges. Were the reporters in the room scared to ask the questions they really wanted to ask for this reason? We’ll never know.
The Record Argument
Now back to our original topic – Brown’s defenders immediately point to wins and losses to defend their position; 37-35, .514 winning percentage and 2 bowl wins against Army and North Carolina. His record isn’t historically the worst, so how could he be the worst coach? But not all wins are created equal. A victory over Texas carries more weight than a routine non-conference blowout. Consider this – Browns marquee wins were over a 16th ranked K-State team in 2020 who went on to finish the season 4-6, a 15th ranked V-Tech team in 2021 who went on to finish the season 6-7, and a 23rd ranked Iowa State team in 2021 who finished 7-6. That’s it – those are Neal Browns “marquee” wins for his entire tenure. You combine that with the fact WVU is facing the longest period in program history of not being ranked in the Top 25 (only Rutgers is ahead of us), the 2 catastrophic losses in the Backyard Brawl that fall squarely on coaching, numerous bad calls that lead to late game collapses (Houston, Ok State), and lack of player development – it’s hard not to put Brown as the worst coach in program history. Success in Morgantown has always been measured not just by the record, but by beating rivals, player development, competing in marquee games, and keeping WVU in the national conversation.
By those measures, Brown failed.
A Proud Program, Squandered
When Brown arrived in Morgantown, West Virginia was not a rebuilding project. Despite his claims that the “cupboard was bare,” that’s always been the case with WVU football. We’re known as a program that recruits who we feel fits our schemes, then coaches’ players up. Our program has been defined by a team that matches the work ethic and personality of the wonderful state they represent; grit, toughness, strong work ethic, blue collar, and proud are the words most often associated with WVU football. What Brown did inherit was a nationally respected brand, the 15th winningest program in the NCAA – built by legendary players such as Darryl Talley, Marc Bulger, Sam Huff, Geno Smith, Tavon Austin, Pat White, Bruce Irvin, Will Grier, and Pat McAfee. A proud program and a program that had been consistently ranked for decades.
What did WVU get in return?
- No time in the Top-25
- No marquee bowl wins
- Consistent underdevelopment of talent
- A stubborn refusal to adapt schemes or personnel
- Costly in-game mistakes that derailed key moments, including the Pitt games
Most damaging of all was his overall stubbornness and mismanagement of players and personnel, frequently putting loyalty or a personal relationship above what was best for the team. We saw this time and time again through Browns tenure and heard as much from former players and staff. Several of these decisions were program defining in Browns tenure. The first and most impactful in my opinion, was choosing Jordan Lesley over Jahmile Addae for defensive coordinator. We don’t need to dive into this too deeply, but that single decision had a catastrophic impact on the program. It led to the departure of Tykee Smith along with several other top defensive players and a horrendous defense for WVU for all of Browns tenure. The second would be the decision to stick with Jarret Doege over Garrett Greene when WVU could have competed immediately with Greene under center. Let’s never forget the press conference where Brown said Doege was the most improved player on the team only to be replaced by Greene later in the season. There are so many more examples of Brown digging in and just making bad decisions (see Tyson Bagent), it’s impossible to list them all in this article. For a program built on innovation, toughness, and player development, this was the opposite of progress.
Comparisons to Cignetti
Critics often invoke Frank Cignetti’s record in the 1970s to argue that Brown isn’t the worst. Cignetti went 17-27 with a .386 winning percentage, but the comparison doesn’t hold. In Cignetti’s first year he had to play 3 top 10 teams, one of which was #1 (Maryland, Penn State, Pitt) The following year, 77’, 3 more top 12 teams (Maryland, Pitt, Penn State). In 78’, he faced two top 5 teams in Penn State and Oklahoma and a 20th ranked Pitt. Cignetti’s marque win came in 77’ over an 11th ranked Maryland team. Here’s another notable difference, Cignetti inherited a program still trying to establish itself and later built a Hall of Fame career. Brown meanwhile, inherited a proven brand with decades of success, and left WVU adrift. Today, he isn’t even in line for another head coaching job — he’s working in a very low-level support role at Texas, a telling reflection of how the broader coaching community views his abilities.
The Verdict
Being the “worst” coach isn’t only about a losing record. It’s about failure to elevate the program, failure to develop talent, failure to meet the expectations of the fan base, and leaving the program in worse shape than when you arrived.
By that definition, Neal Brown fits the description perfectly. He presided over six years of stagnation and mediocrity, undermining the momentum that had made WVU a respected name on the national stage.
West Virginia football has always punched above its weight, defined by grit, innovation, and the ability to make noise against bigger programs. Neal Brown failed to carry on that tradition. Instead, his tenure was marked by stubbornness, missed opportunities, and a steady erosion of WVU’s identity.
History won’t remember him kindly. And when the conversation turns to the worst coach in Mountaineer history, it’s hard to argue that the answer is anyone other than Neal Brown.
A Silver Lining
With all of that being said, things happen for a reason. The 6 years we suffered under Neal Brown set the stage for Rich Rods return. If we would have fired Brown earlier, it wouldn’t have given time for Rich Rod to win C-USA and find his way back to Morgantown. For that, I am grateful to Neal Brown because there is nobody I’d rather see roaming our sideline then Coach Rodriguez. Here’s to the return of the prodigal son, and all the great things coming to West Virginia and its program!
