Dana Holgorsen

Dana Holgorsen is an American football coach, best known for his tenure as head coach at West Virginia University from 2011 to 2018 and the University of Houston from 2019 to 2023. His coaching approach is characterized by the use of innovative Air Raid offense, motion, and spread formations.

Holgorsen first made his mark as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University, achieving a number-one ranking in total offense. While there, he coached quarterback Brandon Weeden to become the first OSU passer to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors and receiver Justin Blackmon to win the 2010 Biletnikoff Award. His successful season at OSU led to his selection as a finalist for the Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach.

In 2011, Holgorsen moved to West Virginia University, initially taking on the role of offensive coordinator before becoming head coach in 2012. His first year saw him guide West Virginia to a share of the Big East Conference crown and receive the FWAA First-Year Coach of the Year award. His tenure at WVU was marked by consistent bowl game appearances and an impressive victory over Clemson in the 2012 Orange Bowl. His eight-year record at WVU was 61-41, making him the second-winningest coach in Mountaineer history, only surpassed by College Football Hall of Famer Don Nehlen.

In 2019, Holgorsen took on the role of head coach at the University of Houston. Although his time at Houston ended in 2023, under his leadership, the team's offenses averaged 563 yards of total offense per game and 42.2 points per game. Throughout his career, Holgorsen has mentored notable quarterbacks such as Case Keenum, Kliff Kingsbury, and Jason Phillips.

Holgorsen's coaching career has been shaped by earlier experiences working as an assistant coach under renowned coaches like Hal Mumme, Mike Leach, Kevin Sumlin, and Mike Gundy. His coaching prowess is further backed by his own experience as a college football player at St. Ambrose University and Iowa Wesleyan University.

Despite a coaching record of 92-69 and a bowl record of 4-6, Holgorsen's impact on the teams he has coached is unmistakable. His offenses have consistently ranked highly in total offense and passing yards, demonstrating his commitment to high-performing, dynamic gameplay.