This week on Inside Appalachia, The chef of an award-winning Asheville restaurant says he was shaped by memories of growing up in West Virginia. The Seeing Hand Association brings together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning. And a West Virginia community grapples with its population of feral cats.
Marshall University announced today — in a press release — that the school would not renew head football Coach John “Doc” Holliday’s contract. It was set to expire on June 30.
The school will instead form a search committee to find Holliday’s replacement. Marshall University president Jerome Gilbert said athletic director Mike Hamrick will serve as chairman of the search committee.
Holliday is finishing his 11th year as head coach. Late last month he was named Conference USA’s Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. He previously won the award in 2014.
In a statement, Holliday said “I’ve always strived to build and leave the program in better shape than I found it. We took a lot of pride in building a winning and clean program.”
Holliday recorded 85 wins at Marshall, including three straight seasons with at least 10 wins. He also led Marshall to eight bowl games, winning six of them.
The team started the season well this year with seven straight wins, but then lost the last three games, including the conference championship and the 2020 Camelia Bowl.
In 2017, before Governor Jim Justice took office, he reportedly met with Gilbert to recommend that Holliday be replaced by former MU coach Bobby Pruett.
In the spring, morel hunters in Virginia take to the woods in search of mushrooms that look like little Christmas trees. Some people freeze them for later. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch asked foragers and chefs for lessons on harvesting and preparing this beloved fungi.
Since 1984, the Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia has recognized and brought to the attention of the general public innovation and creativity among the faculties of West Virginia’s public and private institutions of higher education.
For more than half a century, these annual memorial events have honored revered memories. But they have also inspired a legacy of positive personal and physical growth.
After a week’s delay, the West Virginia high school football playoffs will begin this weekend. The games begin Friday afternoon. The championship games in all four classes will be played in Charleston at Laidley Field Dec. 13 and 14.