On Saturday, West Virginia will immortalize Don Nehlen, a fitting honor for a legendary coach.
West Virginia football’s winningest coach of all time, Don Nehlen, will have his name immortalized when the Mountaineers take on Cincinnati.
“Probably the most important thing on Saturday is honoring Coach Nehlen,” current West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said. “If you get your name in the stadium permanently, that’s a pretty damn big deal.”
Nehlen’s name will join the six retired numbers on the Diversified Energy Terrace.
Nehlen’s mark on West Virginia will never be forgotten. Nehlen coached the Mountaineers from 1980-2000, finishing with 202 wins, two undefeated records, 13 bowl appearances, as well as the 1993 Big East Championship.
Nehlen was a force, building the Mountaineers into a national power. Nehlen at the time of his retirement was just one of 17 coaches to win 200 or more games on the collegiate level. Nehlen took West Virginia from being a struggling program to four straight bowl appearances from 1981-1984.
“He’s been great to me, he really has,” Brown said.
Nehlen now finds himself still around the program, in an ambassador role. Nehlen has spoken to the team and has still been around the program throughout the years, but the ultimate honor will come Saturday afternoon.
“He’s been great to me, he’s talked to our team a bunch through the years. He’s even very supportive and that’s really all I can ask,” Brown said. “I have a great deal of respect for him as a coach and a man. He did it for a long time here. He did it the right way. I really feel like the longer he’s been away, the more appreciation our fanbase has for him and as well they should. He did it really well for a long time.”
Nehlen’s name will go up during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Bearcats. Nehlen’s first football game at WVU came against Cincinnati and he officially joins multiple Mountaineer legends as the Bearcats return to Morgantown on Saturday.
