(1936-01-01) January 1, 1936 (age 88) Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1955–1957
Bowling Green
Position(s)
Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963
Cincinnati (assistant)
1967
Bowling Green (assistant)
1968–1976
Bowling Green
1977–1979
Michigan (QB)
1980–2000
West Virginia
Head coaching record
Overall
202–128–8
Bowls
4–9
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Big East (1993)
Awards
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1988) Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (1988) AFCA Coach of the Year (1988) Big East Coach of Year (1993) Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (2017)
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2005 (profile)
Donald Eugene Nehlen (born January 1, 1936) is a former American football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University (1968–1976[1]) and at West Virginia University (1980–2000). Nehlen retired from coaching college football in 2001 with a career record of 202–128–8 and as the 17th winningest coach in college football history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and has served as a president of the American Football Coaches Association.
Nehlen was a multi-sport athlete at Lincoln High School (Canton, Ohio) where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.
Nehlen played quarterback at Bowling Green (1955–1957) and led the team to a Mid-American Conference championship in 1956. He began his coaching career in 1958 at Mansfield Senior High School and then served as head coach at Canton South High School and Canton McKinley High School. Nehlen was later an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green, and the University of Michigan.
Since his retirement from coaching, Nehlen has been a spokesman for the coal industry. Nehlen received the 2002 Distinguished West Virginian Award from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association.[2] In 2006, Nehlen published a book called Don Nehlen's Tales from the West Virginia Sideline, an autobiographical account recalling his 21-year tenure as the head football coach at West Virginia.
In 2017 the AFCA presented Nehlen the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award, given to the "individual, group or institution whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football."[3]
^"Bowling Green Coach Quits". The New York Times. 24 November 1976. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
^Don Nehlen at the College Football Hall of Fame
^"Nehlen Presented AFCA's Amos Alonzo Stagg Award". West Virginia University Athletics. 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
Donald Eugene Nehlen (born January 1, 1936) is a former American football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University...
West Virginia introduced DonNehlen as its new head coach, the 30th coach in the program's history. Coinciding with Nehlen's hire was the construction...
2012. "Centennial Alumni Awards: DonNehlen '58". Bowling Green State University. Retrieved September 9, 2012. DonNehlen at the College Football Hall of...
Hostetler's two-year tenure at WVU led him to an 18–6 record under coach DonNehlen. Hostetler ranks among single-season leaders at WVU in total offense,...
Glenn, Dudley DeGroot, Art Lewis, Gene Corum, Jim Carlen, Bobby Bowden, DonNehlen, Rich Rodriguez, Bill Stewart, Dana Holgorsen, and Brown. Seven of those...
separate bowl games under three head coaches: Jim Carlen, Bobby Bowden and DonNehlen. From 1991–2011, West Virginia competed in the Big East Conference, winning...
of the Big East Conference (Big East). The team was led by head coach DonNehlen, in his 20th year, and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in...
During the 1985 season, Rodriguez was a student assistant under head coach DonNehlen and graduated with a Physical Education degree. In 1986, he was hired...
of the Big East Conference (Big East). The team was led by head coach DonNehlen, in his 19th year, and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in...
competed as a Division I-A Independent. The team was led by head coach DonNehlen, in his ninth year, and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in...
Both Darren Studstill and Jake Kelchner were up for the spot, but coach DonNehlen decided to have a rotation each game while playing freshman Chad Johnston...
competed as a Division I-A Independent. The team was led by head coach DonNehlen, in his first year, and played their home games at their new stadium,...
Dave Wottle, Orel Hershiser, Mike McCullough, George McPhee, Ken Morrow, DonNehlen, Jordan Sigalet, Nate Thurmond, and Mark Wells. Alumni involved in government...
eleven separate coaches have led the Mountaineers to bowl games with DonNehlen having the most appearances (13). West Virginia's overall bowl record...
defensive backs coach at West Virginia in the summer of 1980 under head coach DonNehlen, before departing for Michigan in the fall to work under head coach Bo...
Falcon football players include Kory Lichtensteiger, Shaun Suisham and DonNehlen (who would also become head football coach at Bowling Green). Notable...
Paul Nehlen (born May 9, 1969) is a white supremacist and former Congressional candidate from Wisconsin. During the 2016 and 2018 Republican Party primary...
Carlen (1966–1969) Bobby Bowden (1970–1975) Frank Cignetti Sr. (1976–1979) DonNehlen (1980–2000) Rich Rodriguez (2001–2007) Bill Stewart (2007–2010) Dana Holgorsen...
1990 – Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech 1991 – Don James, Washington 1992 – Dennis Erickson, Miami 1993 – DonNehlen, West Virginia 1994 – Tom Osborne, Nebraska...
coach, former Denver Broncos Head Coach). Famous former coaches include DonNehlen (West Virginia) and Ben Schwartzwalder (Syracuse). McKinley has won three...
the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. The 2000 season was also DonNehlen's final one in his coaching career. The Mountaineers finished the season...
on September 6, 1980, which also marked the first game for head coach DonNehlen, fans were surprised when singer John Denver made an appearance and led...
Joe Paterno, Tom Osborne, Barry Switzer, Bobby Bowden, Vince Dooley, DonNehlen, and Woody Hayes. Ford resigned on January 18, 1990, after a falling out...
Carlen (1966–1969) Bobby Bowden (1970–1975) Frank Cignetti Sr. (1976–1979) DonNehlen (1980–2000) Rich Rodriguez (2001–2007) Bill Stewart (2007–2010) Dana Holgorsen...
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