A Connecticut boy who applied to be head football coach at West Virginia University got an encouraging response, although it was a rejection.

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WVU President Michael Garrison wrote Joshua Irizarry, thanking him for his interest and advising him "an equally qualified candidate" had been selected to guide the Mountaineers, the Meriden, Conn., Record-Journal reports.

At age 12, Josh, a Southington resident, plays baseball, basketball and soccer in addition to football. But he has been bored this winter because he is recovering from a broken ankle.

His mother, Lina Irizarry, said he learned of the WVU opening from ESPN. He told her he wanted to apply and they discussed it seriously -- including handicaps such as being too young to drive a car.

"When I talked with Josh, he was so willing to work around some of the hurdles and he really wanted to apply, so I told him writing the cover letter wouldn't hurt," she said. "When he received the response, he just lit up."

University employees said they were impressed by Josh's sense of humor. In his letter, he said he realized a 12-year-old coach might be better suited for Temple University, notorious for its outclassed football team.