West Virginia head coach Neal Brown looks on during a Big 12 Conference football game against Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. Brown was fired on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024.
West Virginia head coach Neal Brown looks on during a Big 12 Conference football game against Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. Brown was fired on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024.
MORGANTOWN — West Virginia football coach Neal Brown was fired Sunday afternoon. The 44-year-old was 37-35 in nearly six full seasons at WVU.
“Coach Brown is a great person, and he has served as a tremendous ambassador for West Virginia University,†WVU athletic director Wren Baker said in a statement.
“He led our storied program with class and integrity and always put in the hard work necessary to allow for success. We are grateful to Neal, his wife, Brooke, and their children for their contributions to our university, community and state, and we wish them the very best in their next endeavor.â€
An attempt by HD Media to reach Brown for comment was not successful Sunday night.
Baker was present in Lubbock for Brown’s final postgame news conference following the Mountaineers’ 52-15 drubbing at the hands of Texas Tech. Baker stood in the tunnel to shake hands with players as they left the field but did not take questions after the contest.
At one point Baker did react visibly when Brown noted that the season had not gone as anticipated or hoped for.
It seems apparent that the level of West Virginia’s play in that game was the final straw in the decision to pay the hefty buyout due him under his most recent amendment to his contract, which was signed on Feb. 12.
According to that document, Brown was slated to earn $4 million in 2025, $4.3 million in 2026 and $4.4 million in 2027. WVU’s buyout — called a severance benefit in the contract — is 75% of that total salary, which comes to $9.525 million.
With some adjustments for tax purposes, WVU is obligated to pay the buyout in regular biweekly installments for the next three years.
Brown concludes his West Virginia tenure with a 37-35 record. With WVU earning a bowl berth this season, Brown’s Mountaineer teams will have competed in four bowl games in his six years, including victories in the Liberty Bowl and Duke’s Mayo Bowl. His overall head coaching record stands at 72-51 after 10 seasons at West Virginia and Troy.
“We will keep our focus on the incredible young men in our program and preparing for our bowl game,†Baker said.
“Our national search for WVU’s 36th head football coach is already underway. I am confident that with the strong alignment among the university leadership, our passionate supporters, our proud history and our willingness to invest, we will have an outstanding pool of candidates.â€
