WVU Tech hires Tinsley as new head football coach

By Dan Stillwell

Taking the West Virginia University Tech football coaching job was “a logical choice” for Scott Tinsley.

The mastermind of Nitro High School’s high-octane offense the past 13 seasons, Tinsley accepted the Golden Bears’ grid reins Thursday.

“It’s a good place to get back into the college ranks,” said Tinsley, who coached at West Virginia State College from 1992 to 1994. “I’m from the area and I know the local recruiting base.”

Tinsley was 11-19 in three years at State, then became offensive coordinator at Nitro.

His quarterback for three of those seasons, Kennedy Award winner J.R. House, broke nearly every passing record in the state, including career touchdown passes (145) and career yards (14,457).

After becoming the Wildcats’ head coach, he unleashed hard-charging running back Josh Culbertson (118 touchdowns, 7.842 yards) on the rest of the state.

He took Nitro to the Class AAA playoffs in five of his six seasons.

Now he takes over a Tech program that has won just two games the past three seasons.

In fact, Tinsley becomes the Golden Bears’ fifth head coach since 2004. He replaces interim coach Bill Kehrer, who resigned in January.

“(Tech) assured me they are committed to seeing the football program turn around,” Tinsley said. “I believe we can get it done.”

Tech left the NCAA Division II West Virginia Conference two years ago for the NAIA Mid-South Conference.

The Golden Bears were 1-10 last season, getting outscored 492-121.

Two of the losses were by a combined 160-0.

Their sole victory was 41-16 over Campbellsville (Ky.) Sept. 29.

Admittedly, the timing isn’t the best for taking over a college team. Most schools are well into their spring practices.

“Tech started spring break today, so it will be a week before I get to meet the team,” Tinsley said. “I know we have to get spring ball started soon.”

He knows little about the Golden Bears, other than that two former Nitro players, Shane Skeens and Josh Humphrey, are on their roster.

Admittedly, he’ll be way behind in recruiting.

“We’re in a little bind — I don’t know the immediate needs, the positions we have to fill,” he said. “So our philosophy is to get as many quality players as we can.”

Tinsley would have preferred to stay at Nitro one more year, but the Tech offer was too attractive to turn down.

Besides football, he’s the girls basketball and softball coach at Nitro. His daughter Nikki, a junior, plays on both teams.

“When there’s an opportunity like this, you have to jump on it when you can,” he said. “You can’t waste the window of opportunity.”

While he will continue to coach the Wildcats’ softball team this season, he’s not sure he’ll be back with either team next year.

“That was one of the many things to be discussed (Thursday) and we didn’t get that far down the list,” Tinsley said. “I am able to coach softball the rest of this year for sure.”

— E-mail:

dstillwell@register-herald.com