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Dews ‘presence’ outweighed lack of background with RBs

Related Topics: Dana Holgorsen, Running back

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When Dana Holgorsen hired receivers coach Tony Dews away from Arizona in early February, one media outlet reported Dews wasn’t coming to West Virginia to coach a new position.

Of course, Dews is coaching a new position, overseeing running backs for the first time in his 20-year career.

As Holgorsen explained Tuesday, his search to fill Ja’Juan Seider’s vacancy wasn’t narrowly restricted to assistants possessing “an expertise at one position.” Instead, the head coach took a best-available approach and gave more weight to candidates with “presence” — an intangible he said allows Dews to connect with recruits and current players.