It’s been, what, three years now that people have been readying for Jeff Casteel’s seemingly inevitable departure for another defensive coordinator position? He’s had chances to do his thing at Michigan and Vanderbilt and twice he’s declined — and that doesn’t account for what I’m sure were other offers that stayed quiet. His kids are in high school, with years to go there, and his wife isn’t far from her home and her family in Paden City.

Still, everything that happened in the offseason, with his friend Bill Stewart, who was one reason Casteel chose to stay in 2008, ousted and a new staff built on the offensive side of the ball, there was at least this idea he couldn’t possible be comfortable with the present and the possibilities of the future. And Vanderbilt couldn’t possibly come calling at a better time with a chance for Casteel to coach with friends in a league where, if he succeeded, would be a catapult to a head coaching position.

And yet Casteel is here and really not concerned about what awaits him when practice begins here shortly.

Family was part of the process, but football couldn’t be ignored, either. The defensive staff members signed new contracts, with Casteel getting a raise and a three-year contract and the other three assistants getting raises and two-year deals. Yet the transition was forced upon them and it was easy for outsiders to project a division between the new and the old.

Whatever the reality, Casteel – who has crafted a career that has taken him from a Miami high school to the WVC to UTEP and ultimately WVU – didn’t run away. He ran to it to overcome it.

“It’s a challenge when you take a look at the things that have gone on over the last eight or nine months, but we have a great staff of coaches here and some really good guys,” he said. “I really like the fact we’re all on the same page and we’ve got experienced guys everywhere.

“We enjoy working with each other. It was a situation where we thought we’d stay together and we’ll do what we need to do to be successful. It’s going to be interesting to go about that, but I think we have a good plan and I’m excited to get it going now.”