West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen will return in 2016

West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons issued a statement Wednesday to confirm that head football coach Dana Holgorsen will return for the 2016 season.

West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons issued a statement Wednesday to confirm that head football coach Dana Holgorsen will return for the 2016 season.

The statement came after a previously-scheduled program evaluation. After a disappointing loss to Kansas State in the final game of the regular season, speculation surrounding Holgorsen’s potential firing arose. The Mountaineers went 7–5 this season and are slated to play Arizona State in the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl Jan. 2.

Holgorsen is in his fifth season as head coach, and has gone 35–28 on the job.

"Dana Holgorsen will return as our head football coach in 2016," Lyons said in a statement. "After evaluating our football program after the close of the regular season, I believe that continuity is best for our program.

"I know that Dana, his staff and everyone who supports Mountaineer football was disappointed with how our regular season ended, following a four-game winning streak. Dana and I will continue to work together to strengthen our football program. No one wants to win more than Dana and I, and we will work together to ensure success."

West Virginia’s four-game win streak followed four consecutive losses to ranked opponents.

- Jeremy Woo