On Dec. 3, an executive from a self-described "leading provider of human capital solutions" sent an email to Shane Lyons. To get the conversation started, the executive reminded West Virginia's athletic director they had met once at an alumni event in Houston and that they're both from Parkersburg.

But the executive had more urgent matters to discuss about Dana Holgorsen.

"Dana wants to leave, and I know a friend of Dana’s who should replace him," the email read. "It could be a smooth transition. Better yet, hire him to replace Jake and groom him for one year until we can afford to cut ties with Dana."

Days after Jake Spavital was named the head coach at Texas State and weeks before Holgorsen would leave the Mountaineers after eight seasons to return to the University of Houston, at least one person had the solution as well as the incentive to email Lyons. Hire this coach now, the email suggested, and either let him replace Holgorsen right away or let him be the covert coach-in-waiting until Lyons replaces Holgorsen after the 2019 season.

The recommended coach? Joe Gilbert, who today is the offensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spent this past season coaching the offensive line for the University of Arizona and was the offensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts for six years before that. He spent many years at many college programs before that, including the 2008 season at the University of Houston, where Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator.

The email went on to make a case for Gilbert:

Why Joe?

Experience – you can Google him but he’s an offense guy and right now he is over at Arizona with Kevin Sumlin. Previously, he was with the Colts organization.

Character

o I went to high school with him. He is from a great family and would be an outstanding representative of WVU. Morally, it matters.

o His brother George played pro ball at Philadelphia. Football is in his blood.

o Smart – Joe went to Hamilton in upstate NY. A very good school.

Transition:

o He’s friends with Dana. Dana would help him succeed.

Money:

o I will leave the budget up to you, but, as a first time head coach, I bet he would be a steal and because I know his character, he wouldn’t turn on us like Rich and Dana.

On Dec. 30, still days before Holgorsen officially left WVU but by then quite clear this was happening, the same executive sent Lyons a second email. "Seriously- check out Coach Joe Gilbert. He lives our Mountaineer values," it read.

This was the beginning of the quick and cordial process of the public peppering Lyons with suggestions and best wishes. The athletic director would hear from an Army veteran who's been reaching out to athletic directors and NFL general managers for two decades, executives at a major tobacco company and a major investment management firm, a former player and a few fans. 247Sports acquired email sent to Lyons with a Freedom of Information Act Request, attempted to contact every person who sent an email and spoke with many of them.

Holgorsen's exit was widely reported on Jan. 1, and that's when the athletic director's inbox became a popular destination.