This Ohio native coached football at Bowling Green and Michigan before becoming West Virginia University’s head coach in 1980. He quickly turned the struggling team around, leading them to major wins, including the 1982 upset over Oklahoma, and undefeated regular seasons in 1988 and 1993.

Known for solid fundamentals and smart recruiting, Nehlen is WVU's most successful coach. He won 149 games at WVU and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2023, WVU honored him by retiring his name alongside other football legends.