20 best college football coaches without a national championship
By Brad Weiss
Don Nehlen
, Bowling Green, West Virginia
When you think about Don Nehlen, a couple of things come to mind. For one, he is the best coach in the history of West Virginia football, as he won nearly 150 games during his time with the school. Second, he is one of the best coaches in the history of the sport to never win a national title, and that really is a shame when you look at his wonderful coaching career.
From 1980-2000, Nehlen patrolled the sidelines for the Mountaineers football program, finishing with a losing season only four times. In 1988, Nehlen was named AFCA Coach of the Year, and really put the program on the map during his time at the school. By the time his career had ended, he had racked up more than 200 wins at the Division I level, which is an incredible achievement in itself.
In 1987, Nehlen and his Mountaineers had their best shot at a national title. They finished the regular season undefeated, and got a shot at unbeaten Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. The Mountaineers lost the game 34-21, but there will always be a “what if” when it comes to this game. Star running back Major Harris was injured on the third play of the game, and never returned, which basically crippled the West Virginia offense.
A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Don Nehlen led his Mountaineers to two top-10 finishes in the AP Poll. Fans of the West Virginia program will always wonder about that 1987 season, because if Harris was healthy, Nehlen would likely not be on our list of the top-20 college football coaches to never win a national title.