JaJuan Seider Hired As WVU's Running Backs Coach

JaJuan Seider is reportedly returning to the Mountaineers a third time.

WVU Running Backs Coach Search Update

Robert Gillespie bolted for Tennessee. Will there be a new RB coach by the time spring practice starts? If so, who?

WVU Running Backs Coach Gillespie Leaves For Tennessee

Fifth assistant needs to be replaced since season's end.

Ron Crook Coaching West Virginia Offensive Line Made Official

Parkersburg native returns home to coach the Mountaineer offensive line.

Coach Scoop Reporting Ron Crook To Coach WVU Offensive Line

Several outlets are now confirming the hire.

Bill Bedenbaugh Hired By Oklahoma To Replace James Patton

This makes four coaches from the 2012 staff not returning for 2013.

Lonnie Galloway Back To WVU As Receivers Coach Made Official

In what is hopefully the last major update to this thread, WVU has made the official announcement marking the return of Lonnie Galloway to the football staff as receivers coach.

Coach Galloway originally was part of the staff during Coach Bill Stewart's tenure as head coach of the Mountaineers from 2008 through the 2010 season. When Coach Holgorsen evaluated the inherited offensive staff, Coach Galloway was the lone retention, only to head to Wake Forest instead.

Coach Galloway is known as an excellent recruiter and is credited with bringing Tavon Austin and Bruce Irvin to play football for the Mountaineers.

Here's what Coach Holgorsen has to say regarding the hire:

"We are excited to welcome Lonnie back to West Virginia," said Holgorsen. "During his three years here, our players had great respect for him, and he brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm with him to work every day. I look forward to the positive infusion his coaching and recruiting will bring to our program."

With Galloway back in the fold, Offensive Coordinator Shannon Dawson will slide over (position coach-wise) and take care of the quarterbacks now. The football staff, as it stands right now, is now officially complete.

Tony Gibson Officially Hired To Return To WVU Coaching Staff

WVU has released an announcement officially naming Tony Gibson as a WVU assistant football coach.

Gibson returns to WVU after stints at Michigan, Pitt and Arizona. He followed Rich Rodriguez to Michigan and spent a year with Todd Graham at Pitt when Rodriguez spent a year out of coaching only to follow him once again to Arizona. The year at Pitt was where Gibson got to know WVU's current defensive coordinator Keith Patterson, who likely had more than just a bit of input on his hire.

Also known as an excellent recruiter, Gibson will coach the safeties for coach Dana Holgorsen. Here's what Holgorsen had to say about Gibson:

“Tony certainly has built a reputation as an outstanding recruiter and is nationally known for his ability,” Holgorsen said. “Being a native West Virginian and having already coached here at the University and successfully recruited western Pennsylvania for many years, he brings a familiarity that will be an asset to our program. He worked with Keith at Pitt two years ago, so he already is well-versed with his defensive philosophy so that should help make for a smooth transition.”

That leaves just the Lonnie Galloway hire to be made official to complete the staff.

Brian Mitchell Officially Added To WVU Football Staff, Will Coach Corners

WVU's official athletic site has just made the official announcement of the hiring of Brian Mitchell to coach the cornerbacks.

Mitchell is an alumni of BYU and spent a couple of years in the NFL as a cornerback. He comes to WVU after coaching stints at BYU and Texas Tech as cornerbacks coach and most recently three years as the defensive coordinator for the ECU Pirates.

While his Pirates squads were underwhelming, his cornerbacks helped lead Texas Tech to the #1 Big 12 pass defense rating in 2006 and 2007 under Mike Leach.

Here's what Coach Holgorsen had to say:

“Brian is an excellent addition to the West Virginia football staff and has a wealth of experience as a cornerbacks coach,” Holgorsen said. “He brings a lot of energy, is an aggressive recruiter, and I have seen him develop young players into great players. He is an outstanding coach and even better person, and I look forward to him joining our program.”

We now are still awaiting final confirmation of the hiring of Tony Gibson and Lonnie Galloway to Coach Holgorsen's staff.

The Smoking Musket Podcast: Episode 2

SmithFire13, WVUIE97, and Country Roads sit down to discuss the Texas and Kansas State basketball games along with the recent developments of the Mountaineer Football coaching staff.

Report: Lonnie Galloway Returning To Coach Wide Receivers; Dawson To Coach QBs

It looks like the one offensive coach that Coach Holgorsen wanted to retain from the Bill Stewart era is coming back to Morgantown:

Daily Mail has learned WVU plans to hire Lonnie Galloway from Wake Forest to coach receivers, move OC Shannon Dawson to quarterbacks coach.

— Mike Casazza (@mikecasazza) January 12, 2013

Galloway left WVU to coach at Wake Forest shortly after he was announced as being retained by Coach Holgorsen.

Galloway is also known as a good recruiter, as he is largely responsible for bringing Tavon Austin and Bruce Irvin to WVU.

Who Should WVU Hire To Replace Jake Spavital?

Former Mountaineer quarterback Pat White has some ideas.

It's Official: WVU's Jake Spavital Headed To Texas A&M

The news broke late Thursday night that WVU quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital is indeed headed to Texas A&M and Heisman Winner Johnny Manziel

Report: Texas A&M Denies Spavital Hiring

As is the nature with these kind of things, there is now conflicting information regarding Kevin Sumlin's hiring of WVU quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital.

Jake Spavital To Texas A&M

Dana Holgorsen has another void to fill on his coaching staff as the young quarterbacks coach heads to Aggieland for a bump in salary and the chance to coach a Heisman winner.

Tony Gibson To Return To WVU Staff

Metronews is now reporting that Gibby is in fact, returning to the Mountaineer football staff from his most recent gig in Arizona. Exactly in what capacity remains to be seen. Could be corners, could be safeties. Regardless, his defensive backfields haven't produced much better results of late than the one WVU fielded this past season.

As I mentioned before, Gibby is a good recruiter, which is an area that also needed addressed.

More to come (several articles confirming this in today's Shotgun/Throwdown).

Strange Turn Of Events Related To WVU Coaching Search

In what can only be described as surreal development for WVU fans, Mike Casazza just tweeted the following gem:

Daily Mail has learned ex ECU defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell & Arizona assistant coach Tony Gibson plan to be in Morgantown Thursday.

— Mike Casazza (@mikecasazza) January 9, 2013

No further information was given, but one can only make assumptions and inferences from it. I'll let you make your own.

Brian Mitchell, recently fired from ECU, coached DBs and was the defensive coordinator. I wouldn't necessarily have a problem with Mitchell as a defensive back coach. He didn't fare so well as a DC, as ECU had the 102nd ranked defense.

Gibby... I'm speechless at the possibility of his return. Let's just say this possibility would further turn many fans against Coach Holgorsen.

Stay tuned By-Godders.

WVU Was Close To Hire, Back At Square One

According to this report from Mike Casazza, the first of two WVU's needed hires to complete the coaching staff was near completion and either the candidate pulled back or HR found something in the background check. Without names, we can only speculate at this point. With no confirmation anywhere to be found, most speculate that this was former WVU graduate assistant and current Virginia assistant Chip West, but that's just what it is...speculation. Holgorsen is proving very adept at keeping secrets at this point.

Holgorsen is still conducting interviews at the annual coaches convention and the goal is still to have the hires in place before Friday's scheduled staff meeting.

WVU Football Staff Shakeup Continues, Dunlap Let Go

Coach Holgorsen continues to shake up his football staff following a historically bad season on defense.