Soccer
Mike Montoro
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia College soccer coach Wealthy Rodriguez has introduced that former Mountaineer linebacker Chris Haering has been rehired because the assistant particular groups coordinator on the Mountaineer teaching workers.
“Chris has years of profitable expertise working with particular groups,” Rodriguez mentioned. “He was a standout linebacker throughout WVU’s nationwide championship look in 1988 and has a ardour for this College and the individuals on this state. I look ahead to having him on our workers and serving to make our particular groups unit even stronger.”
He’s getting into his second season as WVU’s assistant particular groups coach. In 2024, the WVU kickoff return protection was ranked No. 12 in Energy 4, the kickoff return unit was ranked No. 17 amongst Energy 4, the Mountaineers have been ranked No. 44 nationally in web punting and the punt return protection was ranked No. 4 within the Huge 12. Kicker Michael Hayes II was ranked No. 6 amongst Energy 4 in discipline objective proportion.
Haering got here to WVU from Wisconsin, the place he coached the particular groups for seven seasons for Paul Chryst earlier than transitioning to tight ends coach in 2022.
His particular groups items helped the Badgers put up a mixed 65-23 file, declare three Huge Ten West Division titles and earn six bowl recreation wins — making three appearances in New Yr’s Six bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose).
The Badgers gained a school-record 13 video games in 2017, with junior kicker Rafael Gaglianone taking part in a key position. He transformed 16 of 18 discipline objective makes an attempt, rating him No. 4 nationally and standing because the second-best mark at school historical past. Gaglianone additionally completed his profession as UW’s all-time chief with 70 discipline objectives and 216 additional factors.
Haering oversaw an enormous enchancment within the Badgers’ kickoff unit. The development started in 2016, with UW recording touchbacks on 63% of kickoffs. Within the season previous to Haering’s arrival, solely 30% of the Badgers’ kickoffs went for touchbacks.
That development continued in 2017 when the Badgers led the Huge Ten in kickoff common at 64.1 yards per kick and recorded touchbacks on 65.9% of them. In 2018, they delivered touchbacks on 81.8% of kicks, the nation’s No. 7 mark. In 2019, they averaged 64.2 yards per kick for No. 4 nationally and hit touchbacks on 77.5% of kicks.
The Badgers’ return recreation acquired a giant enhance in 2019 as UW ranked No. 3 nationally in kickoff returns, at 28.4 yards per runback. Aron Cruickshank scored a pair of touchdowns and completed No. 6 amongst FBS gamers, at 29.3 yards per kick return, whereas Jack Dunn led the Huge Ten by averaging 8.3 yards per punt return.
Wisconsin additionally ranked No. 7 nationally in kick return protection (17.0 common) in 2019, the second time that unit completed among the many nation’s high 10 beneath Haering (No. 5 in 2015).
He spent three seasons at Pitt beneath Chryst. After teaching linebackers in 2012 and 2013, Haering added the title of particular groups coordinator and centered on exterior linebackers in 2014. He helped Tyler Boyd lead the ACC in kickoff returns that season, averaging 27.6 yards per runback, and ranked No. 2 in punt returns at 10.1 yards per return.
Haering was the pinnacle coach at Mt. Lebanon Excessive (Pa.) for 17 seasons after his teaching profession started as a graduate assistant at West Virginia in 1991 following his taking part in days with the Mountaineers.
Haering was a standout linebacker for the Mountaineers from 1986-89, serving to lead WVU to a few bowl video games appearances, together with the 1988 nationwide championship recreation towards Notre Dame. He at the moment is ranked No. 6 at school historical past in assisted tackles (175) and No. 11 in whole tackles (340).
Haering and his spouse, Melissa, have a daughter, Madison, and a son, Mark.
