It was weird when West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck announced that Oklahoma State OC Dana Hologorsen would be WVU’s coach-in-waiting while current coach Bill Stewart lame ducked his way through 2011.
Then, things became more bizarre when it was revealed that not only did Stewart know of his impending firing, but helped recruit Holgorsen to Morgantown.
So, naturally, when Stewart accompanied Luck to introduce Holgorsen as the Mountaineers’ newest OC today, it was like watching Courtney Love at a Comedy Central Roast.
Minus the cocaine.
Yet, Stewart, Luck and Holgorsen conducted the official meet-and-greet as though everything was just peachy, with Holgorsen taking most of the questions.
“If I thought it was a problem I wouldn’t be here,” Hologrsen said of his coach-in-waiting status. “I have a lot of respect for coach Stew and what he’s done, I know what kind of person he is…if everybody’s on the same page then we can win football games.”
Holgorsen said that he is currently concentrating on Oklahoma State’s appearance in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona, and has not made any moves to develop a new staff at West Virginia.
“What we’re concerned with is West Virginia winning their bowl game and then on my end Oklahoma State winning their game. And once that’s over we’ll move on to the next chapter.”
As for that next chapter, Holgorsen insists that his home for the next six years (the length of his contract) is in Morgantown. Considering WVU will be his fourth coaching gig in five years, the validity of that statement remains to be seen.
Stewart, on the other hand, has been rather mum about the situation, sticking to the politically correct “best for the program” cliches. One thing is for sure, though: Stewart is a quality guy who is on the wrong end of a purely business decision. Yet, he has handled everything with a tremendous amount of class and dignity.
And that has to count for something.