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WVU football adds to coaching, support staffs

The West Virginia University football team continued to fill out its coaching and support staffs Monday with the announcement of three more hires.

The most recognizable is that of former WVU defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, who will coach bandits in Rich Rodriguez’s new regime. Casteel, who served from 2020-23 as former coach Neal Brown’s senior defensive analyst and director of high school relations, was defensive coordinator during Rodriguez’s first WVU run and also was his DC in Arizona.

“Jeff has an outstanding resume of defensive success, including being a key member of our staff during one of the most successful periods in West Virginia history,” Rodriguez said. “I am excited to once again have him on my coaching staff. His experience and leadership will be a valuable asset for our coaching staff and players.”

Casteel has 35 years of defensive coaching experience, including 27 years as a coordinator. He has helped guide teams to 14 conference championships and 15 bowl appearances and has coached numerous All-Americans and professional players. He was named the Rivals Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2007, Big East Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2008, a Broyles Award nominee (five times) and the Football Scoop Linebacker Coach of the Year in 2014.

On the support side, Dusty Rutledge was announced as chief of staff for WVU football and Cole Dial was announced as the assistant athletics director for football operations.

Dial will direct and oversee the daily operations of the football office, manage budgets and expenditures, work with the administration on capital projects, plan and administer travel and work with senior administration on all football issues including policy, personnel and scheduling. He also will provide administrative daily support to Rodriguez in the areas of practice planning and scheduling, fundraising, personal appearances and community involvement. He will serve as the football liaison to all units of the athletic department.

He comes to West Virginia from Jacksonville State, where he spent the last three years in the same capacity as director of football operations for the Gamecocks. He was a key member of the management team in organizing, planning, overseeing and supervising all aspects of the football program.

Rutledge will implement strategic planning and staffing for the football office and oversee the areas of recruiting, operations, scouting and office administrative staff. He will also serve as one of football’s liaisons to various units in the athletic department including senior administration, marketing, digital media, development, communications, creative and student-athlete enhancement.

Additionally, Rutledge will direct the program’s student employment program, provide budgetary discretion and assist Rodriguez and staff in promoting the brand of West Virginia football.

Rutledge – who was the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator under Rodriguez for three seasons at Glenville State – has served on the staffs of WVU, Ole Miss, Michigan, Arizona, Louisiana-Monroe and, most recently, Jacksonville State.

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