Neal Brown’s final decision as head coach of West Virginia University’s football team led to a significant opportunity for one of his long-time colleagues. In the final stages of Brown’s tenure, he and athletic director Wren Baker agreed that Chad Scott, the offensive coordinator, would serve as the interim head coach. Baker praised Scott for his enthusiastic leadership, noting that he was particularly well-suited for the role.
An interesting detail that emerged from Baker’s press conference was the delegation of responsibilities for the interim coaching staff. Scott was appointed to focus on football-related duties, while strength and conditioning coach Mike Joseph, WVU’s longest-tenured assistant, would handle non-football matters. Joseph, who has been with the team since 2008, is now overseeing quality control tasks like workout attendance and academic eligibility.
Scott’s first major challenge came quickly, as he had to manage recruiting efforts with Early National Signing Day just days away. Despite the coaching changes, Baker confirmed that no other staff changes had been made since Brown’s departure. He emphasized the importance of doing right by the program and its players.
Despite the uncertainty, WVU’s assistant coaches remained committed and played key roles in recruiting. They successfully signed 21 players to the Class of 2025, with some last-minute additions, including highly-rated defensive backs Dawayne Galloway Jr. and Julien Horton, and defensive lineman Taylor Brown. Several assistant coaches, including ShaDon Brown, Jeff Koonz, Andrew Jackson, and others, were instrumental in securing these recruits. Baker himself also reached out to recruits, reinforcing the message that the program was in good hands.
While there’s no guarantee that the new permanent head coach will retain any of Brown’s staff, the team’s recruitment efforts during this transitional period will likely draw attention. The upcoming bowl game will provide Scott an opportunity to demonstrate his coaching abilities, both as a play-caller and a program leader. Baker expressed hope that the new coach may choose to retain some of the current staff members.
