Cal assistant hired as West Liberty’s head coach
By John Sacco
Contributing Writer
Chad Salisbury made a home at PennWest California, where he helped the Vulcans’ football team create and sustain a level of excellence as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Now, Salisbury and his family are hoping to build a new home as he took over as head coach at West Liberty University on Tuesday.
Salisbury, 49, succeeds Roger Waialae, who resigned after the 2025 season. Waialae was WLU’s football coach since 2005.
The Hilltoppers have not enjoyed a winning season since going 6-5 in 2014. The last time they won a conference title was 2009.
“The first year I was at Cal (2009), we played West Liberty in the (NCAA Division II) regional championship, and the place was amazing,” Salisbury said. “It was rocking, and I just remember it from all those years ago and just kind of admired it from afar.
“Obviously, Roger was here for a long time, very successful, and, you know, when he decided to retire, it was something that, after talking to my family, I wanted to at least try for.
“It’s a job that I’ve really admired for a long time. I just wanted to take a run at it and I was able to do it. My youngest daughter graduated from high school. So, it just kind of all fell together and I’m really excited about it.”
Salisbury, a Frazier High School graduate, brings extensive NCAA Division II coaching experience and a nationally recognized track record as a quarterback developer and offensive architect to West Liberty.
He recently completed his ninth season as offensive coordinator under Cal coach Gary Dunn. Salisbury also spent eight seasons as quarterbacks coach with the Vulcans, while helping guide one of the most consistent offenses in the country.
“I’m extremely excited for Chad and his family for this opportunity,” Dunn said. “Chad’s been a big part of this program for a long time and he’s earned this opportunity.
“Chad’s a great man. I have a lot of respect for him as a person, a father and a husband. He is just an all-around class act. He’s done a really good job running our offense and developing our guys. He’s going to be missed.”
Prior to his coaching career, Salisbury played eight years in the Arena Football League with five different teams. He passed for more than 5,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in his final two seasons and finished his playing career in 2007 with the Grand Rapids Rampage.
Salisbury was a two-year starter at the University of Buffalo after transferring from New Mexico State. As a junior at Buffalo, he set then single-season school records for passing yards and completion percentage. Salisbury still ranks among the all-time leaders in Bulls history in nearly every passing category.
Salisbury has been inducted into both the WPIAL Hall of Fame and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Fayette County chapter. He earned his degree in communication from Buffalo and completed his master’s degree in sport management from California.
Salisbury and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Braylin and Madelyn.
In a press release issued by West Liberty, Brad Forshey – the Hilltoppers’ director of athletics – said the hiring of Salisbury is “ushering in an exciting new era for the program.”
He added: “This is a significant moment for Hilltopper football. Chad is an outstanding leader with a deep understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a successful program. His passion for player development, competitive excellence, and culture aligns perfectly with our expectations and our university’s mission.”
Salisbury’s offenses excelled on the national stage. California led NCAA Division II in scoring offense in 2016, averaging 49.6 points per game, and advanced to the third round of the NCAA playoffs. He also helped guide multiple postseason runs, including a trip to the NCAA semifinals in 2009.
As far as building a coaching staff at West Liberty, Salisbury he has “guys in mind.”
“I don’t have anybody who I can announce yet,” he added.
The Hilltoppers compete in the Mountain East Conference, which includes West Virginia Wesleyan, where former Vulcans’ coach Mike Keller was recently named head coach, and Frostburg State, which eliminated Cal from the national playoffs this year.