MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Larry Blakeney was the face of Troy football for a quarter-century, lifting the program from Division II to the I-AA playoffs and finally into the FBS.
One of the best personnel decisions he made came in 2006 when he hired a young assistant, Neal Brown, to coach receivers. Within two seasons, Brown became Troy’s offensive coordinator, playing a huge part in the Trojans winning four consecutive Sun Belt Conference crowns. Then he was off to grow his career as the play-caller at Texas Tech and Kentucky.
When Blakeney retired in 2014, he advocated for Brown to return as head coach.
“He’s one of my all-time favorites,” Blakeney said Friday after West Virginia offered its head coaching position to Brown. “He stood up and made a name for himself.”
“He’s a guy that will be successful wherever he wants to be.” — Troy Hall-of-Fame coach Larry Blakeney on Neal Brown
Brown compiled a 35-16 record over four seasons as Blakeney’s successor at Troy, emerging as a candidate for several Power Five jobs.
That ascension tickles Blakeney, who resides in nearby Auburn but still talks football with Brown frequently.
“I can’t say enough good things about the man and what he did at Troy,” Blakeney said. “He took charge and drove that thing home.”
Brown and his wife, Brooke, have two daughters, Adalyn and Anslee, and a son, Dax.
“His wife, she understands the coaching business, and they’ve got beautiful kids,” Blakeney said. “They’re a primo family to lead the program. They’re good folks and West Virginia couldn’t do any better.”