Lesley Mentioned as Possible Candidate for Head Coaching Vacancy

Will the Mountaineers have a new defensive coordinator in 2024?

West Virginia defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley was recently mentioned as a possible candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Troy in an article by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

Lesley was a two-year starter for the Trojans back in his college days and was a part of the group that made the transition from the FCS to the FBS. Shortly after his playing career ended, he hopped right into coaching, taking a grad assistant job with his alma mater in 2006. 

By year six in the profession, Lesley earned his first defensive coordinating gig at Kilgore College in Texas. He spent five years as a DC at the junior college level, having stints at Northwest Mississippi and East Mississippi (home of the original Last Chance U) before joining Neal Brown's staff at Troy. 

Lesley coached the Mountaineers to the nation's No. 1 defense in Power Five and fourth nationally in 2020. The unit ranked 37th in 2021, 98th in 2022, and 72nd this season. The transfer portal has crippled West Virginia's depth on that side of the ball and key injuries impacted the defense's success rate this fall with Keyshawn Cobb, Montre Miller, Trey Lathan missing most or all of 2023.

Other candidates mentioned for the Troy job are former UAB coach Bill Clark, Colorado assistant Tommie Robinson, Georgia assistant Dell McGee, and Ravens assistant Tee Martin. Feldman also mentioned WVU offensive line coach Matt Moore could "get a look" for the job as well.

Between The Eers: What Will WVU Get in the Portal?

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