Following a season in which his Mountaineers returned to the post-season after a one-year absence, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen has provided his assistants with a raise heading into 2015.
As reported by Mike Casazza of the Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson led the way with a raise from $350,000 to $650,000; he'll make $750,000 in 2016 and $700,000 in 2017. Running backs coach JaJuan Seider received a raise from $200,000 to $300,000, offensive line coach Ron Crook was bumped from $250,000 to $300,000 and received an extra year on his contract, cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell earned a bump from $225,000 to $275,000, and assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway's salary moved from $300,000 to $350,000,
New hires Bruce Tall (defensive line) and Mark Scott (defense/special teams) joined the staff at salaries of $250,000 and $150,000, respectively. Defensive line coach Damon Cogdell ($200,000) is the only returning assistant that did not receive a raise.
Though more than half of Holgorsen's assistants received raises, WVU's salary pool actually decreased from 2014 to 2015. That's due to departures by offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and defensive line coach Tom Bradley, a combined $900,000 salary figure in 2014, and a $125,000 salary reduction for special teams coordinator/safeties coach Joe DeForest.
Overall, the nine West Virginia assistants will earn $2.7 million in 2015 after making $2.925 million in 2014.
“I think our salaries are very strong and they’re fair market value,” WVU athletics director Shane Lyons told the paper. “Obviously, you have to use each on a case-by-case basis, but I don’t in any way feel we’re out of line, especially with the Big 12 or even nationally. We’re solid, and obviously it’s important for a coaching staff to have retention and the ability to compensate assistant coaches and to keep them happy.”