West Virginia

CB Coats ready for new challenge at West Virginia

Published

1 year ago

January 20, 2025

CB Coats ready for new challenge at West Virginia

Michael Coats has taken a unique path to where he currently finds himself.

The transfer cornerback emerged as one of the top options in the market after a season at Nevada where he was a first-team all-Mountain West selection in 2024 after recording 41 tackles, 17 passes defended, and 4 interceptions while charting elite coverage grades.

But he almost didn’t play college football at all.

The Mississippi native started playing the game in Little League, but as he got older gravitated more towards basketball and baseball. He quit playing sports altogether in tenth grade and after graduation spent a season working at an arcade for a year. That’s when he came across a flyer for walk-on tryouts at East Central C.C.

Coats often played 7-on-7 with his friends and decided that he didn’t have anything to lose so he decided to attend the tryout and earned a spot as a walk-on with the team.

“I never played cornerback in my life, but I always watched football, and I always loved watching the cornerbacks and receivers go at it. That position was just natural because in basketball I was a good defensive player so it’s really the same mechanics when you translate it over,” he said.

The rest is history.

Coats arrived in fall camp and earned a starting spot on the team and has essentially started since. After appearing in 21 games at East Central, he transferred to Nevada where he recorded 13 tackles and an interception in his first season before breaking out in his second.

The game started to slow down for him and Coats credits the coaching he received during his time with the Wolfpack as a big reason why he made a significant jump.

“Now the game is starting to slow down just by naturally playing all the time. You can be told something, but you’ve just got to naturally learn it,” he said.

While he was originally contemplating his future in regard to the NFL Draft, the ruling on junior college players gave him the chance to spend another season in college. That’s when he elected to enter his name into the transfer portal and heard from a long list of schools including West Virginia, Mississippi, Texas Tech, Baylor, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, and Houston. It was a different experience for the reserved Coats.

“I’m a different type of guy I don’t like the attention,” he said.

Coats took an official visit to West Virginia and was highly impressed with the entire package. From the facilities, to the atmosphere, to the town, and the message from the coaching staff it checked all his boxes in what he wanted to find in a college football program.

After meeting with head coach Rich Rodriguez, defensive coordinator Zac Alley and cornerbacks coach Rod West, Coats had decided that he wanted to spend next season in Morgantown.

“It felt comfortable to me,” he said.

Coats believes that he is a good fit for the West Virginia defense as the coaching staff liked his ability to play press-man coverage and his versatility to move around the defense. West Virginia saw an athlete who was quick and twitchy with elite ball production and Coats saw an opportunity.

The terminology in the defense wasn’t all that different from what he did at Nevada, and he was impressed with the disguised coverages that Alley utilizes.

Coats is already enrolled at West Virginia but plans to report today in order to get the next chapter of his story started in Morgantown. He is excited to get to know his new teammates and prove himself once again at the power four level in the Big 12 Conference.

“I love the challenge. I’m going in with a new slate and everything I did in the past doesn’t really matter anymore so I’m excited for that part of the challenge and show that I’m still that guy,” he said.

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West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Daily 3, Daily 4 on Feb. 26, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the West Virginia Lottery’s draw games on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on Feb. 26.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

1-1-7

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

3-8-8-2

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 25 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

02-03-09-11-13-19

Check Cash 25 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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West Virginia

WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala raises $2 million for West Virginia’s kids and families

Published

15 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala raises million for West Virginia’s kids and families

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s raised more than $2 million at its annual gala, an event dedicated to expanding care for children and expectant mothers in West Virginia and the surrounding region.

Approximately 1,300 guests enjoyed the “Celestial” themed event on Saturday (Feb. 21) as they helped little stars shine bright at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.

Donations from the community will go toward the greatest needs of WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, helping to ensure all families in need receive world-class care in a compassionate environment when they need it.

“Our community continues to show up in extraordinary ways for our patients and families,” Amy L. Bush, B.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., C.N.O.R., chief administrative officer for WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, said. “The generosity we witnessed at this year’s gala ensures we can continue growing our programs and enhancing the care we provide. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who believes in our mission.”

Engineer, TV host, and 100th woman to fly to space, Emily Calandrelli, served as emcee for the evening. The West Virginia University alumna is passionate about space exploration and inspiring children to pursue STEM careers.

Calandrelli spent time visiting patients at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s before the gala.

“As a Morgantown native who is passionate about science and children, I’m thrilled to play a small part in this beautiful evening that raises crucial funds for the lifesaving work WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital is doing right here in my hometown,” she said.

“The amazing doctors, nurses, and staff aren’t just healing sick kids, they are inspiring the next generation of curious explorers and adventurers who are one day going to change the world.”

Entertainment was provided by Party on the Moon, whose high-energy performance capped off the night’s festivities.

A highlight of the celebration was the recognition of inspiring patients and dedicated teams who care for kids across the state.

Carter Casey from Sod in Lincoln County was introduced as the 2026 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® Champion Child for West Virginia. He received care at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals in Charleston and WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s for life-threatening injuries after a go-kart accident.

Pavithra Ellison, M.D., M.M.M., F.A.S.A., associate chief quality officer and vice chair of anesthesiology, was presented with the WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital Award for her leadership, service, and lasting impact on pediatric healthcare.

The Community Service Award was presented to Little General, Inc. The company’s generosity has provided vital support to the children and families who turn to WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s for care. The Little General team across the state is committed to creating a better future for West Virginia’s families.

More than 80 sponsors contributed to the gala’s success. Leading sponsors included Iron Senergy, Dr. Christopher and Beth Mascio, Hope Gas, Infinity Electric & Service Co., CJL Engineering, HED Design, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Trilogy Innovations, Mark Carter and Amy Wildasin, PJ Dick, Triple H Enterprises, Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, Prolacta Bioscience, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Daniel’s Men’s Store, and StudioKat Photography.

David A. Rosen, M.D., Michelle Rosen, and the Rosen Family Foundation served as presenting sponsors and helped spearhead fundraising efforts. Dr. Rosen, a pediatric anesthesiologist at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s and professor and vice chair of research in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology, emphasized the importance of continued investment in pediatric care.

“I am proud to continue my support of the WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala. This commitment is deeply personal — not only as a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist who has had the privilege of serving WVU Medicine for more than 30 years, but also as someone who was personally affected by polio as a child,” Dr. Rosen said.

“That early experience shaped my lifelong appreciation for the critical role compassionate, specialized pediatric care plays in changing lives. Supporting WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital reflects both my professional dedication and my personal mission to advancing exceptional care for children with complex medical needs and supporting the families who rely on it.”

All gala contributions were made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities. Visit Childrens.WVUMedicine.org/Giving to make a gift to WVU Medicine Children’s.

For more information on WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, visit WVUKids.com.

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West Virginia

Instant Takeaways from WVU’s Second Half Thrashing of UCF

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Instant Takeaways from WVU’s Second Half Thrashing of UCF

The Mountaineers earned their second win over the UFF Knights by a score of 74-62 on Wednesday night in Orlando at Addition Financial Arena. The Mountaineers went into the half trailing, but battled back for a comfortable win.

Here are some instant takeaways from West Virginia women’s hoops’ 23rd win of the season.

West Virginia Proves They Can Overcome Slow Starts

It was a very slow first half for the Mountaineers. West Virginia trailed 27-25 at halftime, but came out in the third quarter firing on all cylinders. Within the first minute of the third quarter, the Mountaineers had regained the lead off of a Gia Cooke layup and a tough finish inside by Carter McCray.

West Virginia went on to have a 31-9 run in the third quarter, leading by as many as 21 to propel them to victory. The way that the Mountaineers were able to regroup and go on a run in the second half shows that this team is built to win in many ways. They have depth at guard in particular that can keep them in the game against almost any team in the nation.

The Mountaineers Have Depth Everywhere

When the Mountaineers came out of the second half, it ended up being guards Gia Cooke and Jordan Harrison who led the way, scoring the ball. Harrison, who scored 16 points against UCF, in particular, has displayed through her three seasons at West Virginia that she fits perfectly into head coach Mark Kellogg’s defensive style of basketball. Harrison has also been molded into a solid offensive player. Cooke leads the team in points per game and leads the team with 19 points tonight. When the Mountaineers need a bucket, they can count on the experience of Cooke and Harrison down the stretch.

Meme Wheeler and Carter McCray had nearly identical stat lines that included 12 points and 7 rebounds each. Having Wheeler and McCray capable of rebounding with just about anybody in the Big 12 is part of what West Virginia has been missing during Kellogg’s tenure. This truly does feel like the most complete team of the Kellogg era thus far.

The win moves West Virginia to 14-4 in Big 12 play and 24-6 overall. The Mountaineers sit behind only TCU in the Big 12, with Baylor a game back and WVU owning the head-to-head victory over the Bears. Kellogg and his crew will finish their 2025-26 regular season campaign on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Hope Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

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