WVU AD: No Chance To Win Under Stewart
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (KDKA/AP) -- WVU's athletic director Oliver Luck says the Mountaineer football program could not have won a national championship under Coach Bill Stewart, so the university opted to hire Dana Holgorsen.
Luck held a news conference Thursday to address the hiring of Oklahoma State's Holgorsen as West Virginia's head coach in-waiting.
Holgorsen is scheduled to replace Stewart prior to the 2012 season. In the meantime, he'll serve as WVU's offensive coordinator.
Luck says he told Stewart of his decision to replace him after the Mountaineer's 37-10 over the Cincinnati Bearcats. The decision came just four months after Luck assumed the AD job.
When asked about the reason for the change, Luck said, "I didn't believe we had an opportunity to win a national championship with the direction of the program. At the end of the day, results matter. And we weren't getting the results. I want our Mountaineer program and expect us to compete at the highest levels."
The fans weren't happy with the direction of the team and that was showing in ticket sales.
Luck said season-ticket sales have declined since Stewart became head coach, and that was another reason he made the move.
Holgorsen will sign a six-year contract but details still need to be worked out, Luck said.
It is reported Holgorsen will be paid be paid $800,000 in 2011, $1.4 million, plus incentives, in 2012.
Once Stewart leaves after next season, he will take an undetermined administrative post.
