WVU celebrated and honored a legendary of the football program on Saturday night. Former players, coaches and many currently involved with the Mountaineers were in Morgantown as part of a 90th birthday party for Don Nehlen.
Images of the festive night can be found all over social media.
Former WVU head coach Neal Brown, who did not attend the event, even shared his thoughts about his mentor and friend.
“Happy Bday to a HOF coach and one of the best men I know! Talked to him earlier this week and he sounded great. Very appreciative of his friendship and mentorship,” said Brown.
Below offers a description of Nehlen’s accomplishments and illustrious tenure provided by WVU Athletics.
Nehlen coached 15 first team All-Americans, 28 total All-Americans, 82 All-Big East Conference honorees and 80 NFL players from 1980 to 2000. In 1988, Nehlen was recognized with three national coaching awards, the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award and the AFCA Coach of the Year. In 1993, he was named the Big East Coach of Year and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Nehlen guided his WVU teams to 13 bowl game appearances, 17 winning seasons and the 1993 Big East Conference title, and his 1988 and 1993 squads finished the regular season with undefeated records. The 1997 president of the prestigious American Football Coaches Association, Nehlen received the 2002 Distinguished West Virginian Award from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association, and in 2017, he received the AFCA’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Award for advancing the best interests of college football.
Courtesy of WVU Athletics
His final numbers included 202 victories, two Lambert Trophies for eastern football supremacy, the 1993 Big East championship and at the time of his retirement, he was just one of 17 coaches to win 200 or more career games on the collegiate level.
WVU honored Nehlen during the 2023 season by immortalizing his name on a wall inside Milan Pulsar Stadium.
Former WVU Head Coach and great Don Nehlen was immortalized Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium. (WVSN photo Kelsie LeRose)
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