He served as the recruiting and operations graduate assistant from 2011-14. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia in 2011 and his master’s degree in sport management in 2014.
Doug Cross
Multimedia Specialist Doug Cross is in his first year as WVU Football’s multimedia specialist and sixth year working with the Mountaineer football program. Cross is responsible for the design of promotional, marketing, recruiting and fundraising presentations for the football program and the Mountaineer Athletic Club utilizing digital media, video, audio and webdirected multimedia. He provides content and interactive initiatives for use in multimedia design for the football program, recruiting operatives and the Mountaineer Athletic Club. He contributes concepts, designs, graphics and e-communication services to effectively promote the programs to fans, students, studentathletes, coaches, sponsors and media. Prior to his current position, he spent five years providing multimedia materials and strategies through his own marketing/creative services company for the football program and Mountaineer Athletic Club. He developed and produced video, print, graphics and digital content as well as handling management of social media. For three years, he served as a video specialist at WVU for the football program and taught an introductory marketing class. His 2012 highlight video was judged as the best collegiate highlight video that year by the Collegiate Sports Video Association. Cross, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business with a double major in supply chain management and marketing with a minor in interactive media studies from Miami University of Ohio. He graduated with a double master’s degree in business administration and sport management from West Virginia in 2012.
Brittney O’Dell
Associate Director of StudentAthlete Development Brittney O’Dell is in her third year as the associate director of student-athlete development with the responsibility of overseeing the Mountaineer football program. O’Dell oversees the development of each football student-athlete by monitoring and tracking their academic progress, conducting testing upon initial enrollment, and producing individualized academic plans to ensure their academic success each semester until graduation. She also provides guidance to the student-athletes, assists them with the organization and development of their course schedules each semester, helps oversee the study hall program and assists with test preparation, study skills and time management. She also works in conjunction with the compliance department on initial and continuing eligibility issues. O’Dell works with on-campus student development offices including admissions, registrar and financial aid to determine eligibility, certification, scholarship and aid provision for class scheduling. She also works with on-campus officials to provide academic data to analyze and produce the football program’s Academic Performance Rate. O’Dell came to West Virginia after serving as a coordinator of academic advising services at UCF for four years (2011-15). She had direct oversight of academic advising, monitoring player progress, creating individualized academic plans, coordinating tutoring needs and ensuring academic success for the UCF defensive football players and the women’s golf team. O’Dell spent two years as a graduate assistant in the academic services department at UCF (2009-11), working with student-athletes in the sports of football, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, softball and rowing. She served on multiple campus committees within the student development and enrollment services department, developing an academic mentoring program and training database for student-athletes. She is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. She is nationally certified and served on the 2014 regional planning committees and presented at the organization’s national conference in June 2011. O’Dell, a native of Orlando, Florida, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in family and child sciences from Florida State in 2008 and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from UCF in 2011.
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Zach Seger
Academic Counselor Zach Seger is in his first year as the academic counselor working with the Mountaineer football program. As part of the student-athlete development unit, Seger provides academic support and guidance to football student-athletes, including organizing and implementing academic programs that ensures their growth in the classroom, in the community and on an individual level. Seger maintains accurate records and knowledge of student-athlete academic schedules to notify coaches regarding classes, tests, appointment, study sessions and community service. He also maintains constant communications with the student-athletes and professors to evaluate progress and classroom performance. Prior to being named to his current position, he served as an assistant academic coordinator for football at WVU. He assisted with the organization and implementation of academic support programs and advised student-athletes in selecting area of study and organizing their individual schedules. He worked with at-risk student athletes, facilitated daily tutor schedule and monitored study hall. Seger served as a program coordinator graduate assistant in the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh for two years. During that time, he also was a graduate academic counselor intern in the Office of Academic Support Services for Student Athletes. Seger graduated cum laude in sport management with minors in business administration and communications from West Virginia in 2014 and earned his master’s degree in higher education management from Pitt in 2016.
Patty Harman
Assistant Learning Specialist
Patty Harman is in her seventh year as an assistant learning specialist with West Virginia football and before her current position, she served as a student-athlete mentor for two years. In her current role, she is responsible for providing academic support for student-athletes in the areas of study skills, note taking, time management, test-taking strategies, personal and skill development and instruction in course work. She monitors and documents the academic progress of the student-athletes, assists the students with course schedules and selecting academic majors and assists student-athletes with learning disabilities to acquire and use accommodations. Harman received her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia in recreation and parks management in 1981 and her master’s degree in industrial relations in 1983. Since 2009, she has served as an instructor in the WVU Continuing and Professional Education Program. She has served as a visiting lecturer for the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, National Resources and Design for four years, a recreation specialist for one year and a park specialist for four years with the Fairfax County Park Authority in Fairfax, Virginia, a life enhancement coordinator for the Fauquier County Parks and Recreation Department in Warrenton, Virginia, for one year and a community recreation coordinator for the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Coordinator in Charleston, West Virginia for a year. Since 2007, Harman serves as a volunteer with On Eagles’ Wings Therapeutic Horsemanship program as a riding instructor giving lessons to children and adults with disabilities. Patty, and her husband, Chuck, have two children, Charlie (wife, Paige) and daughter, Anne (husband, Lucas).
A native of Canton, Ohio, Nehlen received a bachelor’s degree in physical education and safety in 1985 from West Virginia. He and his wife, Janie, have two children, Ryan and Danielle. Ryan, a former member of the Mountaineer football squad, now serves as a graduate assistant coach at Michigan, working with the wide receivers.
Aaron Malik
Assistant Equipment Manager Aaron Malik is in his eighth year as the assistant equipment manager for the Mountaineer football program. Malik coordinates the maintenance and repair of athletic equipment, uniforms and facilities. He also inspects the equipment for defects and assists in the purchase, issuance, storage and accountability of all Nike athletic equipment, footwear and apparel. Malik spent two years as an equipment intern with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was responsible for daily operations of the equipment room, locker room and practice fields. He also monitored proper usage of NFL Rules in regards to on-field apparel, logos, colors and NFL trademarks. He served as a student equipment manager for football at WVU from 2003-07, including serving as head manager for two years, and spent the 2009 season as an equipment graduate assistant with the football program. He was a ball boy for the Steelers from 2000-02, assisting with practices and various game day duties. Malik earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management with minors in communications and sport and exercise psychology from West Virginia in 2007. Malik married the former LeAnne Jafrate in June.
Kyle Butler
Video Coordinator Kyle Butler is in his third year as the video coordinator for the Mountaineer football program and ninth overall with the program. He is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Mountaineer football program’s video efforts. He handles the day-to-day video operations for practices and games, maintaining the in-house DVSport network, film breakdown and exchange and the instant replay system, as well as assisting in the production of highlight films. Butler came to West Virginia in 2009 as a student assistant with the video department, served as a graduate assistant from 2012-14 and then was a video assistant and camera operator, before being promoted to his present position. He assisted with the day-to-day operations of the WVU football video operations, recorded football practices and games, imported and edited video for coaches’ scout, set up and assisted with the production of highlight videos. He maintained the laptops and projectors for the coaches’ offices and meeting rooms as well as the players’ iPads and tablets. He operated handheld and tripod based video cameras for athletic events for video board and Internet live-streams for the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling. Butler graduated from West Virginia with his bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2011 and his master’s degree in sport management in 2014. He and his wife, Emily, have a son, Arkin.
Shawn Walker
Assistant Video Coordinator
Dan Nehlen
Equipment Manager Dan Nehlen is in his 30th year as equipment manager for the Mountaineer football program. The son of Hall of Fame and former Mountaineer coach Don Nehlen, he is responsible for maintaining and procuring all equipment and uniforms for the football program as well as overseeing the football student managers. Nehlen also coordinates the extensive movement of equipment when West Virginia takes to the road. He joined the West Virginia staff in 1981 as a student manager. In 1986, he became assistant equipment manager and held that position for two years before becoming a fulltime staff member in 1988.
Shawn Walker is in his third year as the assistant video coordinator for the Mountaineer football program. Walker coordinates the videotaping of all practices and games and oversees the assigning of videographers for practices and games. He edits and processes all opponent and self-scout videotape using analysis software for practices, games, offseason opponent preparation and recruiting material. He also provides specialized videos for each position coach to use and produces teaching videos for the coaches’ clinics. Walker trains and supports the coaching staff with its analysis software and manages, creates and produces statistical data for team scouting analysis. He organizes, stores and archives video and videotapes of practice, game, opponent and self-scout for the football program.