MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Should West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen stay or should he go?
That’s the question Mountaineers fans are weighing in the wake of WVU’s 52-44 loss to Iowa State in Morgantown on Saturday. The Mountaineers closed out the 2013 regular season with a 4-8 record.
Callers to Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline” were split on whether Holgorsen should be shown the door immediately or allowed more time to show improvements within the program.
“I say it’s time for him to go,” said one caller. “Ax him now,” said another. But other callers urged caution. “It goes back to recruiting. It’s not coaching right now. That’s not the main thing,” said one caller. “My gut tells me we’ve got to keep him unless he is really bad next year, at least two more years,” said another caller.
Holgorsen took over WVU’s program in 2011 and led the Mountaineers to a Big East championship and win in the Orange Bowl over Clemson that season. Since WVU has entered the Big 12 Conference, though, the program has struggled.
“He’s on the clock,” said Allan Taylor, WVU beat writer for WVMetroNews.com, on Monday’s “Talkline.” Taylor said Holgorsen “at least deserves a chance to see this young team come to fruition next year with a lot of guys back.”
“This time next year, if they’re (the Mountaineers) not in a bowl game, and I’m not talking about a 6-6, barely-got-in-with-a-win-over-Kansas type of bowl game, if there’s not drastic changes, I think it’s big trouble for Dana,” said Taylor.
As of Monday, WVU athletics director Oliver Luck had not spoken publicly or issued any kind of statement addressing the state of the Mountaineers football program.
According to Holgorsen’s contract, he’ll be owed the entire amount remaining on his contract, which is $11.3 million, if he is fired this year. After next year, that amount is $8.6 million.