Don Nehlen

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Don Nehlen (born 1936 in Mansfield, Ohio) was head football coach at Bowling Green State University and later, most notably, at West Virginia University. His lifetime record was 202-128-8. He retired in 2001 as the 17th winningest coach in college football history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. He is a past president of the American Football Coaches Association.

He quarterbacked Bowling Green to a Mid-American Conference championship then began his coaching career in 1958 at Mansfield High School. He served as head coach at Canton South and Canton McKinley high schools and then was an assistant coach at University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green, and University of Michigan.

Nehlen received the 2002 Distinguished West Virginian Award from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association.^[1]

Since retirement, he has been a spokesman for the coal industry. He has been urged to run as a Republican for several political offices, but as of 2005 he has declined to do so. He is a supporter of the FBI's childhood fingerprint identification campaign.

[edit] At West Virginia

Nehlen became West Virginia's 29th football coach December 7th, 1979. Nehlen replaced Frank Cignetti after four losing seasons. Nehlen's first season, 1980, went 6-6. In 1981, led by quarterback Oliver Luck, West Virginia went 8-3 and upset the Florida Gators in the Peach Bowl 26-6. In 1983, led by Jeff Hostetler, West Virginia started the season with an upset over #9 Oklahoma Sooners and a memorable win in 1983 against the University of Pittsburgh. The 1984 season had wins against Doug Flutie's Boston College and Penn State. The Penn State win marked West Virginia's first win against them since [1955].

The 1986 season marked the beginning of the Major Harris era in West Virginia. In Harris' sophomore season, 1988, West Virginia went undefeated and played Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. West Virginia lost the game 34-21, after Major Harris' injury on the third play of the game.

In 1993, Nehlen led West Virginia to another undefeated regular season, but Florida enacted revenge in the Sugar Bowl, winning 41-7. The 1994 team started with a 1-4 record, but Nehlen managed to take West Virginia to the Champs Sports Bowl, but lost to University of South Carolina 24-21.

In 1998, Nehlen had future NFL-pros Marc Bulger, Amos Zereoue, Anthony Becht, Gary Stills, Barrett Green, and John Thornton to make up what he called "his best West Virginia...squad". West Virginia opened the season with a loss to Ohio State, but finished the season with an 8-4 record, losing in the Insight Bowl to University of Missouri 34-31.

Following a loss to Syracuse University, Nehlen announced that the 2000 season would be his final. Nehlen's final home game was against ECU. Nehlen's final game was against Ole Miss in the Music City Bowl. After winning three of his first four bowls, Nehlen's bowl resume had been below average. But West Virginia handled the Rebels 49-38, let by the offensive attack of quarterback Brad Lewis, tailback Avon Cobourne, wide receiver Antonio Brown, and fullback Wes Ours.

Nehlen is West Virginia's all time leading coach in terms of victories. His career record there is 149-93-4. He coached 15 first team all-americans, 82 all-conference players, and 80 NFL players. He received Coach of the Year honors from Kodak. In 1993, he won the Big East Coach of the Year award. In 1988, he led earned AFCA Coach of the Year honors. Nehlen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

[edit] See also

• List of presidents of the American Football Coaches Association

[edit] References

http://www.wvu.edu/~sports/hall_fame/don_nehlen.htm

Preceded by Bob Gibson	Bowling Green State University Head Football Coach 1968- 1976	Succeeded by Denny Stolz
Preceded by Frank Cignetti	West Virginia Head Football Coach 1980- 2000	Succeeded by Rich Rodriguez

Bowling Green Falcons Head Football Coaches
Stitt • Jean • Krieger • Snyder • R.B. McCandless • Steller • Ockerman • Whittaker • Perry • Gibson • Nehlen • Stolz • Ankney • Blackney • Meyer • Brandon

West Virginia Mountaineers Head Football Coaches
Emory • Rane • McCrory • Trenchard • Krebs • Anderson • Yeager • Hill • Yeager • Trout • Chez • Forkum • Russell • Leuder • Edmunds • Sweetland • Metzger • McIntire • Spears • Rogers • Neale • Tallman • Glenn • Kern • DeGroot • Lewis • Corum • Carlen • Bowden • Cignetti • Nehlen • Rodriguez