MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The architect of several successful defensive units for the Mountaineers is back on staff at West Virginia University. Jeff Casteel has been hired by Rich Rodriguez to coach WVU’s bandits.
“Jeff has an outstanding resume of defensive success, including being a key member of our staff during one of the most successful periods in West Virginia history,” Rodriguez said. “I am excited to once again have him on my coaching staff. His experience and leadership will be a valuable asset for our coaching staff and players.”
Casteel was the defensive line coach on Rodriguez’s original coaching staff at WVU in 2001. The Paden City native transitioned to the role of co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach a year later. In 2003, Casteel was named defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and he held that role through the 2011 season.
When Rodriguez left for Michigan in 2008, Casteel remained on staff with the Mountaineers through the 2011 Orange Bowl Championship season. A year later, Casteel reunited with Rodriguez at Arizona. He was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for the Wildcats from 2012-2015.
Casteel held those same roles at Nevada from 2017-2019 before returning to Morgantown in 2020, when he worked as a senior defensive analyst and director of high school relations until 2023.
Prior to arriving at WVU in 2001, Casteel worked on staffs at California, Pa., Shepherd and UTEP.
Jeff’s son Jake, a standout football player at University High School, will join his father on the Mountaineer coaching staff as a defensive analyst.