Doc Holliday ( American football ) John " Doc " Holliday ( born April 21 , 1957 ) is the current head coach of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team . Early life . Holliday was born and raised in Hurricane , West Virginia . He graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor ' s Degree in Physical Education in 1979 , then graduated with a Master ' s Degree in 1981 in Safety Management . Holliday was also a three - year letterwinner while playing linebacker at West Virginia . Coaching career . West Virginia ( 1979 – 1999 ) . In 1979 , Holliday became a graduate assistant for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team . Then in 1981 , he became a part - time assistant until 1982 . Holliday became wide receivers coach in 1983 and remained at that position until 1989 . In 1990 , Holliday became the inside linebackers coach . He remained coaching the linebackers until 1992 . In 1993 , he returned to coaching the receivers . In 1995 , Holliday was promoted to assistant head coach , while still maintaining receivers . During his tenure at West Virginia University under head coach Don Nehlen , Holliday achieved a prestiguous record . He coached the top three career and single - season reception leaders in school history and eight of the top ten players in both categories . He also coached the leading receivers in the Big East in 1996 , 1997 , and 1998 while also coaching three of the top six receivers in Big East history . He coached third - team All - American receiver Reggie Rembert , three - time all - Big East receiver Rahsaan Vanterpool , all - Big East receiver David Saunders , all - Big East receiver Shawn Foreman , and all - Big East receiver Khori Ivy during his tenure and also was responsible for seven eventual NFL draftees . Holliday was also the main recruiting coach in the Florida - area for West Virginia University . Holliday was responsible for recruiting majors stars , such as linebacker Steve Grant , and became one of the best recruiters in the nation . He also helped the Mountaineers to 12 bowl games in his twenty years at West Virginia University . NC State . In 2000 , Holliday left West Virginia for North Carolina State . There he became the associate head coach and wide receivers coach . He remained at NC State until 2004 . During his time in North Carolina , Holliday coached three of the top eight receivers in school history : Koren Robinson , Bryan Peterson and Jerricho Cotchery . In 2001 , the squad set school records for completion percentage and fewest turnovers , while the 2002 team led the ACC in scoring . That squad also finished with school records of total yards , passing yards , most points scored , and most first downs in a season . The 2003 squad then set records in pass attempts , pass completions , passing yards , passing yards per game , passing touchdowns , and pass completion percentage . Florida . In 2005 , Holliday traveled to the University of Florida and became the Gators ' associate head coach , safeties coach , and recruiting coordinator . In 2005 , Holliday was named one of Rivals . com ' s Top 25 Recruiters , while also tutoring a secondary that only allowed 52 . 3 % of passing to be completed which was 16th best in the nation . He guided safety Reggie Nelson to a consensus All - American honor and to become a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2006 . Also in that season , the Gators ' pass defense efficiency was fourth - ranked nationally and second in the SEC while only surrendering a nationally tenth - ranked 10 touchdowns all season and sixth in the nation in scoring defense . West Virginia ( 2008 – 2009 ) . When West Virginia University head coach Rich Rodriguez left the team before their Fiesta Bowl game to assume the head coaching position at the University of Michigan , Doc Holliday ' s name surfaced as a candidate in the Mountaineers ' head coach search . On January 12 , 2008 , it was announced that Holliday was to be named West Virginia ' s associate head coach , tight end coach , fullback coach , and recruiting coordinator for head coach Bill Stewart . Doc Holliday and Stewart helped pull in a recruiting class with 23 letters of intents on signing day . The 2008 class , led by 5 - star offensive guard Josh Jenkins from Parkersburg , West Virginia , was ranked 36th by Scout . com and 44th by Rivals . com . Marshall . On December 16 , 2009 , sources , who asked to remain anonymous , told the Charleston Gazette that no deal has been finalized , but that Holliday is the apparent choice to succeed Mark Snyder , who chose to resign rather than be fired as the MU coach . The sources say WVU head coach Bill Stewart and athletic director Ed Pastilong have been informed of the proceedings . On December 17 , 2009 , Marshall made it official to name Holliday as the next head coach for the Thundering Herd football team . Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick says Holliday has signed a five - year contract and will be paid $ 600 , 000 per season .