West Virginia head coach Neal Brown has decided to make a change at defensive coordinator, replacing Jordan Lesley following a 4-4 start to the season. Lesley had been with the Mountaineers since 2019 and had been leading the defense since 2020. The defense had seen a decline in performance this season, prompting Brown to make the decision to bring in a new coordinator.
Assistant coach Jeff Koonz will take over as the new defensive coordinator for the remainder of the season. Koonz has previous experience as a co-defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, and will now have the opportunity to showcase his abilities in this new role.
Brown expressed his gratitude for Lesley’s contributions to the program but believed that this change was necessary for the team to finish the season strong. The decision means that West Virginia will owe Lesley the remainder of his salary for this season and a portion of his salary for the next season.
The Mountaineers are currently focused on their final four games of the season and will look to make the most of their remaining opportunities under Koonz’s leadership. Brown has confidence in Koonz and the rest of the coaching staff to help the team succeed in the coming games.
Overall, the decision to make a change at defensive coordinator comes as West Virginia aims to improve its defensive performance and finish the season on a high note. The team will be looking to Koonz to provide strong leadership in this role for the remainder of the season.
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Photo credit westvirginia.rivals.com