One of the most beloved of all West Virginia athletic traditions, The Mountaineer mascot first appeared at WVU sporting events during the 1934-35 school year with Lawson Hill taking on the role. The Mountaineer is selected each year by the Mountain Honorary – the school’s prestigious senior honorary. The Mountaineer’s costume is tailored to fit each winner and male Mountaineers customarily grow beards during their tenure to go along with the coonskin cap and rifle, although the beard is not a requirement for the mascot position.
The 2023-2024 Mountaineer is Mikel Hagar from Madison, WV.