Former running back joins staff as assistant director of football operations

At this time last year, former West Virginia running back Quincy Wilson was working as the marketing sales manager for State Industrial Corporation in Cleveland. But now he’s getting to return to the school where he ranks No. 8 all-time in rushing yards, joining the West Virginia football staff as the assistant director of football operations.

"Sales really prepared me for this because I’ve had to deal with people," Wilson said. "When you’re doing sales, you do cold calls, and you have to sell yourself, so that’s what I have to do with these guys now. I’m selling myself because they know the West Virginia part, they know about ‘The Run’ and they know about the NFL, but they don’t know me.

"Now I have to sell myself to them so they can feel comfortable and when things come up, they can come up to me – not as a coach – and say, ‘Hey Q,’ and I really like that aspect of it and just having my hand in a little bit of everything."

West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen brought the idea up to Wilson during the spring before making him the offer a few months later.

"I told him if it ever came to fruition to let me know," Wilson said. "It really makes you feel good when they come to you and they say, ‘We think this would be awesome, and we’d like you to join the family.’ "

Wilson will assist Alex Hammond, WVU’s director of football operations, with the daily activities of the football program, serving as a liaison in the areas of compliance, academic support and residential life.

The new job gives the Weirton, W.Va., native the opportunity to work closely with the players. In order to do that, he said he’s looking forward to the chance to get to know more about them than just who they are on the field.

"I know Geno (Smith) and Tavon (Austin) and those guys like that, but now I really get to say, ‘Hey, what’s your mom’s name, do you have a sister?’ " Wilson said. "I can really get to know them better and have a pulse on the team. Once they get to know me, they can come to me when something goes on or when they have off-the-field stuff that happens because, a lot of times, people don’t have an outlet to channel whatever they’re thinking at the time."

That relationship that he can build with players because of the four years he spent in Morgantown in their shoes is definitely something that attracted Holgorsen to looking to Wilson to fill this role on the staff.

"I am thrilled to welcome back Quincy Wilson to Mountaineer
football," Holgorsen said in a statement released by the University. "As a native West Virginian, a former student-athlete and leader in his community, there is no better person to serve in our new player development position. Quincy’s role will be pivotal in helping mentor and develop our players off the field."

Wilson said things have changed a lot since his time as a player, but due to his experience at the college and professional levels of football, there shouldn’t be much of a problem for him when it comes to working with the players.

"It’s real different now because, these guys, they’re going to camps and combines, and they’re seeing some of their friends doing well and they could wonder why they’re not playing, so there’s going to be a balancing act where you’re going to have to tell some kids, ‘Your time is coming, you’ve got to be patient,’ " Wilson said. "I’m looking forward to that challenge. I’ve been there; I’ve wanted to play every game, and I know what I would need to tell a guy to help them out on the field and off of it."