West Virginia Wesleyan College Director of Athletics Ken Tyler announced today that Head Football Coach Denny Creehan has resigned to accept the position of Director of Athletics at Alderson-Broaddus College. Creehan will play an integral role as A-B explores the possibility of bringing football to the Philippi campus. The new President at Alderson-Broaddus College is Denny Creehan's brother, Rick Creehan. Wesleyan Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Jonas Jackson has been named interim head coach for the 2011 season.
Creehan served as the head coach at Wesleyan for two seasons, compiling an overall record of 11-10. After going 2-8 during a rebuilding year in 2009, he led a magical campaign in 2010. The Bobcats finished 9-2, good for second-place in the WVIAC and #7 in the Atlantic Region. After starting 6-0, Wesleyan was ranked as high as #21 in the nation, eventually finishing # 33 and narrowly missing out on an NCAA playoff berth. It was one of the best seasons in Wesleyan history.
Jackson takes over the Wesleyan program after serving as Creehan's top assistant since January, 2009. He has coached the defensive line and served as recruiting coordinator for the Bobcats before adding the duties of defensive coordinator. Prior to Wesleyan, Jackson had college coaching stints at Valparaiso, Wagner, Arizona Western, Temple, LaSalle, and Illinois State. He also served as the head coach of Elancourt of the French Pro League. Jackson earned a bachelor's degree and played varsity football at Eastern Michigan University and earned a master's degree from Valparaiso University. He resides in Buckhannon with his wife Liz.
Tyler stated, "While we are sorry to lose Coach Creehan, we are happy for him and his wife Linda for their exciting personal and professional opportunity. We are grateful to Denny for what he did for our football program, totally turning it around in two short seasons. He has raised expectations for the Bobcats, and I feel confident that the team will continue to move forward under Coach Jackson's leadership."
Creehan concluded, "I would like to thank Dr. Balch, Ken Tyler, and all the fine people at West Virginia Wesleyan for the wonderful opportunity they have provided me and my family. I had a great experience at Wesleyan and will leave with only fond memories. I truly intended to coach the rest of my career at Wesleyan and never imagined that my brother would be named President at Alderson-Broaddus. My move is based strictly on the opportunity for a promotion to an athletic director's position and to help my brother."
