West Virginia announces Dana Holgorsen will coach Mountaineers in 2016

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen will return for the 2016 season, athletic director Shane Lyons announced in a statement Wednesday.

“Dana Holgorsen will return as our head football coach in 2016. After evaluating our football program after the close of the regular season, I believe that continuity is best for our program. I know that Dana, his staff and everyone who supports Mountaineer football was disappointed with how our regular season ended. Dana and I will continue to work together to strengthen our football program. No one wants to win more than Dana and I, and we will work together to ensure success.”

West Virginia finished the regular season 7-5 after losing to Kansas State in the conference finale. The Mountaineers will play Arizona State in the Cactus Bowl.

Holgorsen became the Mountaineers coach in 2011 and has a 35-28 record in his five seasons with the program. However, he is just 15-21 in the Big 12 play.

Lyons did not address Holgorsen’s contract, which still have two seasons remaining. If the Mountaineers would have fired Holgorsen, they would have owed him and his staff a $9 million buyout.

For more West Virginia news, visit WVSports.com.

– – – – – – –

Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook