Donald Eugene Nehlen (born January 1, 1936) is a former American footballer and coach. He was head coach trainer at Bowling Green State University (1968-1976) and at West Virginia University (1980-2000). Nehlen retired from college football training in 2001 with career record of 202-128-8 and as coach of the 17th winner in the history of college football. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and has served as president of the Football Association of American Footballers.
Nehlen played quarterback at Bowling Green (1955-1957) and led the team to the Mid-America Conference championship in 1956. He began his coaching career in 1958 at Mansfield High School and later served as head coach at South Canton High School and Canton McKinley High School. Nehlen later became an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green, and the University of Michigan.
Since retiring from training, Nehlen has become the spokesperson for the coal industry. Nehlen received the 2002 Virginian West Distinguished Award from the West Virginia Broadcasting Association. In 2006, Nehlen published a book called Tales Don Nehlen from West Virginia Sideline, an autobiographical account that recalls his 21-year tenure as head coach of football in West Virginia.
Video Don Nehlen
In West Virginia
Nehlen served as a midfield coach at the University of Michigan under Bo Schembechler from 1977 to 1979 before taking up the head coaching job in West Virginia. Nehlen became head coach of 29th West Virginia football on 7 December 1979, replacing Frank Cignetti, who has recorded four successive seasons.
Nehlen first hired Gary Tranquill as an offensive coach. In an attempt to replicate Michigan's defense, Nehlen hired Dennis Brown from Wolverines. Nehlen hired a number of coaches who worked with him at Bowling Green. Nehlen also defended Donnie Young, assistant head coach Cignetti, as his recruitment coach. Tranquill left West Virginia after three seasons as head coach in the Navy, bringing Steve Dunlap's graduate assistant with him. Dunlap then returned to serve as West Virginia's defensive coach. One of Nehlen's most notable assistants is Doc Holliday, who serves the assistant head coach and hired a coach for nearly 20 years before leaving for North Carolina State University. Holliday is sent to Florida every year to seek recruits and find many talented players there, including midfielder Steve Grant. When Nehlen arrived in West Virginia, he introduced Mountaineers' first home and away uniform and a new helmet logo, "The Flying WV," which became the official logo of West Virginia athletics and, finally, the university itself.
In 1980, Nehlen's first season in West Virginia, the mountain climbers went 6-6. In 1981, led by quarterback and future WVU athletic director Oliver Luck, West Virginia went 9-3 and disappointed the Florida Gators in Peach Bowl, 26-6. In 1982, led by quarterback Jeff Hostetler (who eventually married Nehlen's daughter Vicky), West Virginia started the season upset over Oklahoma Sooners # 9. In 1984, Nehlen's squad posted a win against Boston College, led by the Heisman Trophy winner, Doug Flutie, and top Penn State for The Mountainer's first defeat of Nittany Lions since 1955.
The 1987 season marked the beginning of the Mayor Harris era in West Virginia. In the sophomore season of Harris, 1988, the mountaineers are unbeaten in the regular season and face the top notch of Notre Dame at the Fiesta Bowl. Harris was injured in the third game game and West Virginia lost, 34-21. Notre Dame was named the national champion.
In 1993, Nehlen led West Virginia to an unbeaten regular season and the title of the Big East Conference, but the Florida Gators demanded revenge on the Sugar Bowl, winning 41-7. Team 1994 Nehlen started the season with a record of 1-4, but rebounded to qualify for the Carquest Bowl, where they lost to South Carolina, 24-21.
In 1998, West Virginia featured a number of future National Football League (NFL) players including Marc Bulger, Amos Zereouà ©  ©, Anthony Becht, Gary Stills, Barrett Green, Solomon Page and John Thornton, to form what Nehlen called "West Virginia's best "... troop." The Mountaineers opened the season with a home loss to Ohio State, but finished the season with an 8-4 record, losing at the Insight Bowl to Missouri, 34-31.
After losing to Syracuse in 2000, Nehlen announced that the season would be his last as head coach. On December 28, he coached his final game against Ole Miss at the Music City Bowl. After winning three of their first four games, West Virginia Nehlen's team has lost eight direct postseason contests, but his final squad, led by offensive offensive quarterback Brad Lewis, tailor Avon Cobourne, wide receiver Antonio Brown, and fullback Wes Ours, handle Rebels, 49-38.
Nehlen completed his tenure in West Virginia with a record of 149-93-4. His 149 victories are the most in school history. With mountain climbers, Nehlen trains 15 major All-American teams, 82 All-Big East Conference honorees, and 80 NFL players of the future. In 1988, Nehlen was recognized with three national training awards, Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award, Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, and AFCA Coach of the Year. In 1993, he was named the Great East Coach of the Year. Nehlen was inducted into the College of Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Maps Don Nehlen
Head coaching record
Train a tree
Assistant coach under Don Nehlen who is head coach of NCAA:
- Paul Chryst: Pitt (2012-2014), Wisconsin (2015-present)
- Darrell Hazell: Kent State (2011-2012), Purdue (2013-2016)
- Doc Holliday: Marshall (2010-present)
- Rich Rodriguez: Salem (1988), Glenville State (1990-1996), West Virginia (2001-2007), Michigan (2008-2010), Arizona (2012-present)
- Bob Simmons: Oklahoma State (1995-2000)
- Bill Stewart: Virginia Military Institute (1994-1996), West Virginia Mountaineers (2007-2010)
See also
- List of college soccer coaches with 200 wins
- List of presidents of the Football Association of American Footballers
- Polling Legends
References
External links
- Don Nehlen at the University Football Hall of Fame
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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