Chris Haering

Biography

Haering is entering his second season as WVU’s assistant special teams coach. In 2024, the WVU kickoff return defense was ranked No. 12 in Power Four, the kickoff return unit was ranked No. 17 among Power Four, the Mountaineers were ranked No. 44 nationally in net punting and the punt return defense was ranked No. 4 in the Big 12. Kicker Michael Hayes II was ranked No. 6 among Power Four in field goal percentage. Haering came to WVU from Wisconsin, where he coached the special teams for seven seasons for Paul Chryst before transitioning to tight ends coach in 2022. His special teams units helped the Badgers post a combined 65-23 record, claim three Big Ten West Division titles and earn six bowl game wins — making three appearances in New Year’s Six bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose). The Badgers won a school-record 13 games in 2017, with junior kicker Rafael Gaglianone playing a key role. He converted 16 of 18 field goal attempts, ranking him No. 4 nationally and standing as the second-best mark in school history. Gaglianone also finished his career as UW’s all-time leader with 70 field goals and 216 extra points. Haering oversaw a massive improvement in the Badgers’ kickoff unit. The trend began in 2016, with UW recording touchbacks on 63% of kickoffs. In the season prior to Haering’s arrival, only 30% of the Badgers’ kickoffs went for touchbacks. That trend continued in 2017 when the Badgers led the Big Ten in kickoff average at 64.1 yards per kick and recorded touchbacks on 65.9