Getting To Know: Bill Bedenbaugh

Back in December when Dana Holgorsen was putting together his offensive staff, he looked to men he trusted, and understood the system he wanted to bring to Morgantown.  We know that one of those men was inside receivers coach Shannon Dawson. Now meet the Mountaineers new offensive line coach, Bill Bedenbaugh.

Bedenbaugh took over replacing former WVU line coach Dave Johnson. He and Holgorsen played together for Mike Leach at Iowa Wesleyan and went on to coach six years under Leach at Texas Tech. Most recently, Bedenbaugh was the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Arizona for four seasons.

Let’s take a look back at coach Bedenbaugh.

*Bedenbaugh spent seven years at Texas Tech, the first three (2000-02) as an offensive graduate assistant, working with the offensive line, the next two years (2003-04) as the running backs coach and his final two years (2005-06) as the offensive line coach.

* 2007, the offense averaged 385.3 yards per contest, Arizona’s best in nine years and No. 5 in the school’s history.

*2008, Bedenbaugh’s line paved the way for the offense to average almost 160 yards a game on the ground and scored 33 touchdowns to lead Arizona to an 8-5 record and a victory in the Las Vegas Bowl.

*Bedenbaugh coached an offensive line in 2009 that finished No. 10 nationally in fewest sacks allowed (13) and helped the Wildcats compile an 8-5 overall record, tied for second place in the Pac-10 and earned an appearance in the Holiday Bowl.

*Last season, the Wildcats finished 7-6 and played in the Alamo Bowl, where they lost to Holgorsen’s Oklahoma State team 36-10. Throughout the season, Bedenbaugh’s offense posted the ninth-best passing game average in the nation (307.7) while ranking in the Top 25 in offense.

The decision to leave the desert was a tough one, but he’s glad to be in Morgantown.

“West Virginia has a lot of history and tradition, has won championships and I believe will continue to win championships and do even greater things into the future, and I want to be a part of it,” Bedenbaugh said in a statement through the university. “Coach Bill Stewart is a great leader, and Dana is a great offensive mind, who I have known for 20 years; I trust them and want to be part of the Mountaineer staff. Leaving the players and coaching staff at Arizona was one of the toughest things I have ever done, but coming here to West Virginia is what I want to do.”

Bedenbaugh has a solid recruiting record, specifically in the state of Illinois. He’s known for targeting the taller guys with long arms, something this system needs. Before he left for the WVU, Bedenbaugh had three four-star offensive line commitments for Arizona and one four-star lineman for the 2011 class.

He is an imposing site that’s demanding, tough, and expects a lot from his guys. Bedenbaugh wants to build a mean, and nasty group in the trenches. Leave the finesse stuff for the skill guys, while the offensive linemen get nothing but the bruises.

The Mountaineer offensive line is lacking depth, something that’s a major focal point during this recruiting period. WVU got off to a good start with the verbal commit of Tony Matteo (6’5, 280lbs) and Tyler Orlosky (6’4, 290lbs). As we said yesterday, it doesn’t look to end anytime soon.

Mountaineer Nation welcomes coach Bill Bedenbaugh to the Mountaineer family.

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