Glenville State Director of Athletics Jesse Skiles has announced the hiring of Jake Casteel as the next Head Football Coach at Glenville State. Casteel becomes the 26th head coach of the nine-time conference champion and two-time national runner-up football program.

"We are excited to welcome Coach Casteel into our Pioneer Family," Skiles said. "He is a talented young coach who has worked on some strong coaching staffs and has also proven to be an aggressive recruiter."

Casteel comes to Glenville State after serving as a defensive assistant coach with West Virginia University, working primarily with the linebackers under his father, bandits coach Jeff Casteel. Jake was hired by former GSU head coach and current WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez in January 2025 to join the Mountaineers staff.

"It's an honor to be named the head coach at Glenville State. I am excited to build on the tradition of this program and make the university, community and alumni proud to be Pioneers," said Casteel.

Prior to West Virginia, Casteel spent one season at Jacksonville State where he was a defensive analyst and SAM's coach.

In 2024, Jacksonville State linebackers racked up more than 240 tackles, which helped the Gamecocks to a No. 11 nationally ranked redzone defense and No. 16 ranked in turnovers gained with 24.

Casteel's first full-time position came at Cal Poly in 2022 as the linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator. He spent two seasons on the Mustangs staff after spending one season each as a graduate assistant at West Virginia (2021) and Boise State (2020) on the defensive side of the ball.

Casteel was a standout linebacker at Northern Arizona from 2014-18, totaling 250 tackles in 44 games played over four seasons with the Lumberjacks.

He led NAU in 2018 with 90 stops and had 54 tackles in 2017 when Northern Arizona earned their first bid to the FCS Playoffs since 2013.

Casteel was a four-time Big Sky All-Academic Team selection as well during his playing career before staying at NAU in 2019 as a graduate assistant.

"I want to thank Director of Athletics Jesse Skiles, President Dr. Manchin and Ike Morris for believing in me," closed Casteel. Glenville State will formally introduce Casteel to the community, media and the University this week. It will be open to all of the public.

The Casteel File

• High School: University (W.Va.) / Salpointe Catholic (Ariz.)
• College: Northern Arizona (Educational Leadership)
• Accolades: 2013 High School State Champion at Salpointe Catholic… First Team All-State… NFF Linebacker of the Year (Ariz.)... First Team All-Southern Arizona… 4x Big Sky All-Academic Team at Northern Arizona University

Coaching Experience

• 2019: Northern Arizona - Graduate Assistant
• 2020: Boise State - Graduate Assistant
• 2021: West Virginia - Graduate Assistant
• 2022-23: Cal Poly - Linebackers Coach & Co-Special Teams Coordinator
• 2024: Jacksonville State - Defensive Analyst & SAMs Coach
• 2025: West Virginia - Defensive Assistant Coach (Bandits)

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