MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Offensive line coach Matt Moore is joining defensive coordinator Vic Koenning as the second assistant coach to make the move from Troy to West Virginia with head coach Neal Brown. Moore will replace Joe Wickline on the coaching staff. Wickline spent three seasons at West Virginia.
Moore spent the last four seasons as Brown’s offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at Troy, where the Trojans offense was known for its physical style despite its roots in the “Air Raid” scheme.
“Matt and I have been together through a lot of football games, and we have developed great chemistry,” Brown said in a school release. “His offensive linemen are strong and physical, and he has developed some great talent through the years. I look forward to Matt joining us at WVU and getting to work with our offensive line.”
In 2016, Moore was nominated for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Though he is giving up his coordinator duties, Moore said is looking forward to the opportunity.
“I’m excited to be joining Neal Brown’s staff at West Virginia and become part of the Mountaineer football family,” Moore said. “West Virginia is a great university with a successful history and is a member of the one of the top conferences in the nation. This is a great opportunity to continue building young men on and off the field, win games and earn championships.”
Prior to Moore’s first season at Troy, he spent the previous two years as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Louisiana Tech. Moore also spent time at Middle Tennessee (2012) and Texas Tech (2007-11) in addition to his first stint at Troy (2006).
Coincidentally, Moore played on the offensive line at Division II Valdosta State when Dana Holgorsen was the program’s quarterbacks coach.
Returning starters Colton McKivitz (right tackle) and Josh Sills (left guard) will be the cornerstones of West Virginia’s offensive line next season. Center Matt Jones, a two-year starter at center, announced that he will transfer to FCS Youngstown State for his senior season, though he said it has nothing to do with the coaching change.
Left tackle Kelby Wickline is now in an interesting spot with his dad being replaced on the coaching staff. The redshirt junior started in place of departing senior Yodny Cajuste in the Camping World Bowl, but would be eligible to transfer if he completes his degree this spring.