Nehlen Receives Recognition

By Delano Farley
Don Nehlen, WVU’s winningest football coach, was recently elected into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and fittingly so. The man not only earned the credit he deserves, he earned it the old-fashioned way.

Nehlen’s philosophy of having solid linemen and keeping a stable of running backs was as clear in technique as his approach to the game. The old fashioned “keep it on the ground” and the “three yards and a cloud of dust” theories were witnessed nearly every game day. However, that style of play earned him his dues as it proved to be successful for him and the teams he coached.

He will be inducted on Sunday, May 7, at the West Virginia Sports Writers Association’s 60th annual Victory Awards dinner. Nehlen’s tenure as head coach of the Mountaineer football team was highlighted by two undefeated seasons (1988, 1993) and a national championship game appearance versus Notre Dame in January 1989. In 1982, Nehlen took an underrated Mountaineer football squad to Oklahoma University to play the highly ranked Sooners. The Mountaineers were not supposed to win that game. But they did, and in convincing fashion. That was not only the beginning of what WVU football is today, but also it was a stepping-stone in Nehlen’s career.

Nehlen recorded 53 wins at Bowling Green University in nine years, and then served a three-year assistantship as recruiting coordinator and quarterback coach at Michigan University under the legendary Bo Schembechler.

The Canton, Ohio, native posted 149 wins during his 21 years at WVU. He guided WVU teams to 17 winning seasons and 13 bowls. His career record of 202 wins over 30 years ranked him fifth among active coaches when he retired in 2001.

Nehlen had 15 All American first-team selections of which six made Academic All American first teams. Eighty-three of his student athletes went on to play professional football. This past December, Nehlen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in New York City. He is also a member of the WVU; Bowling Green; Gator Bowl; MAC; and Canton, Ohio, Baseball Old-Timers halls of fame.