Jan 13, 2008 2 min read

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Doc Holliday will return to West Virginia to become coach of tight ends and fullbacks and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, new coach Bill Stewart said Saturday. Holliday was associate head coach for safeties under Urban Meyer at Florida the past three seasons.

“He’ll be a tremendous asset to the West Virginia football program,” Stewart said. “It goes without saying his accolades as a recruiter are simply outstanding.”

Holliday is the second Florida assistant to leave in a three-day span. Running backs coach Stan Drayton accepted the same position at rival Tennessee on Wednesday.

Saturday’s announcement comes a day after Stewart hired Steve Dunlap as assistant head coach in charge of safeties, David Lockwood as cornerbacks coach and Chris Beatty as running backs and slot receiver coach.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel and defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich were the lone holdovers from Rich Rodriguez’s staff.

Rodriguez left for Michigan last month and hired six former Mountaineer assistant coaches and five members of their support staff.

Holliday had interviewed for the WVU head coaching job in December. The Hurricane native played linebacker at West Virginia from 1975-78 and was a full-time assistant coach from 1983-99. Most of his time at WVU was spent in charge of wide receivers under Don Nehlen, who retired after the 2000 season.

Holliday, Dunlap, Lockwood, Stewart and Kirelawich were assistants under Nehlen.

Holliday was an assistant coach at North Carolina State for five seasons and joined Florida in 2005, the year before the Gators won the national championship.

Stewart was named head coach on Jan. 3, the day after West Virginia beat Oklahoma 48-28 in the Fiesta Bowl. He still must hire additional offensive coaches, including a coordinator, and replace WVU’s entire strength and conditioning staff.