White: Lackluster Win Leaves 'Hoos in Sour Mood
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/05/2010
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- History will record that on Jan. 5, 2010, Mike Scott had 22 points and 7 rebounds, Sylven Landesberg 20 points and 6 boards, Sammy Zeglinski 13 points, 6 assists and 4 steals, Calvin Baker 7 assists and only 1 turnover.
So why were UVa's players and coaches so dissatisfied Tuesday night at John Paul Jones Arena? Because the Cavaliers' effort in a 72-53 win over the University of Texas-Pan American might have been their worst of the season.
"I wish I could say it more eloquently, but we were poor," first-year coach Tony Bennett said.
That the Wahoos would win their penultimate non-conference game was almost a foregone conclusion. UTPA (1-15) ranks among the weakest teams in Division I. Only one Bronc stands taller than 6-7, and he plays about five minutes a game.
This is a team that lost by 28 points at Nebraska, by 56 at Missouri, by 62 at Texas. Yet after a 5-0 run by Texas-Pan American, UVa's lead was only 12 with 2:25 remaining Tuesday night.
"I think we kind of played down," said Scott, a 6-8, 239-pound junior who encountered little resistance inside. "No disrespect towards them, but we knew we were a lot better team, and we just played down towards their level. We just gotta play harder than that."
A few minutes earlier, in the JPJ press room, Bennett had said, "If our guys disrespected their opponent, I'd be very disappointed. I thought they certainly disrespected the game the way they approached it.
"We were just lackluster. As I've said before, when we're not clicking, when we're not sharp and alert, we become not a great team, and that showed tonight."
What made the effort particularly frustrating for Bennett was that the Cavaliers (8-4) had played with palpable passion and intensity last week in an upset of then-No. 24 Alabama-Birmingham at JPJ.
"I told the guys before the game, 'When you're alert and real competitive,' I said, 'I like the group sitting in front of me. But when you're not,' I said, 'then it's tough,'" Bennett recalled.
"And tonight we weren't alert and real feisty and real competitive, and we'll have to have that. That effort factor, that's the entry fee to play at the high-major level. When that's not there, you don't belong."
Landesberg said: "I think we came in with the mindset that we just came off a big win, and we might have been a little too confident in ourselves. We let them stay in the game with us, and that built their confidence up to continue to play well."
Stats can deceive, and such was the case Tuesday night. UVa's defense was not nearly as good as the Broncs' 41.7 shooting percentage would suggest.
"Texas-Pan American, they're scrappy kids, they work hard," Bennett said. "They missed a lot of shots, they missed some point-blank shots, some open shots, that would have made that a lot closer than it was.
"We did not perform well. We were sloppy. We were un-alert, and that was disappointing coming off of the UAB game. But we'll get back to work tomorrow, and we certainly have to prepare for a different level of competition."
Virginia's ACC opener is Saturday at N.C. State (0-1, 10-4). And if the 'Hoos play as poorly in Raleigh as they did against UTPA?
"We can't play like that anywhere in the ACC against any team if we want to win any games," Landesberg said. "We know that, but tonight we definitely didn't show it."
Scott, in his second game back from a high-ankle sprain that still bothers him, hit 10 of 15 shots from the floor Tuesday night.
"I was just taking what I could get," he said.
Against the smaller Broncs, Scott got pretty much whatever he wanted.
"It was a hard matchup for them," Bennett said. "He got pretty deep position [in the post]. I don't know if he'll get quite that deep position in the ACC. It'd be nice. He made some nice plays.
"I thought he was solid on the offensive end and was rusty on the defensive end. It's nice to have in a game like that, when you're struggling, to be able to dump it inside and have him go to work. He has a knack down there, but he's got to bring a complete performance on both ends of the floor."
UVa guards Jontel Evans, Baker and Zeglinski were a combined 9 for 14 from the floor and had 16 assists, 7 steals and only 4 turnovers among them.
Zeglinski's torrid perimeter shooting continued. After making 2 of 3 attempts from beyond the arc, the 6-0 sophomore from Philadelphia is 30 for 61 from 3-point range this season.
Still, he wasn't much happier than his coach after the game. Bennett had warned his players that UTPA could be a "trap game," and "and that's exactly what happened," Zeglinski said.
"And it's disappointing, because I thought we were going the right direction. Tonight was definitely a step back, but we got three days to regroup and focus in on the ACC schedule."
 

Cavs need work with ACC looming
Virginia struggles in a win over Texas-Pan American.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- For Texas-Pan American men's basketball coach Ryan Marks, one of the selling points for a trip east was an opportunity to share a marquee with Virginia.

Good thing for the Cavaliers that visiting UTPA didn't dominate any headlines.

The Broncs, winless in 15 of 16 games this year, trimmed a 25-point Virginia lead to 12 before falling to the Cavaliers 72-53 at John Paul Jones Arena.

Virginia (8-4) extended its winning streak to four games, the first four-game winning streak for the Cavaliers in more than two years, but first-year coach Tony Bennett wasn't happy as UVa's conference opener loomed Saturday at North Carolina State.

"We did not perform well, we were sloppy, we were unalert and that was disappointing coming off the UAB game," said Bennett, whose Cavaliers beat then-No. 24 UAB, 72-63, a week ago. "We certainly have to prepare for a different level of competition."

Bennett has been searching for a best rotation and "you could see today that there weren't many answers out there," he said. "There's not a lot of separation. Here I am and I've got to figure out who can help us be as competitive as possible. The things we've worked at definitely didn't stand up today."

With fewer than 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Cavaliers found themselves down 20-18 to a Pan American squad that didn't have a coach for nearly three months last spring.

"At that point in time, we had six players in the program," Marks said. "So, when we come out and see a full group of guys in the layup line, I'm tickled."

Pan American is located 15 miles from the Mexican border and more than 1,400 miles from Charlottesville.

Marks, previously the head coach at Division II St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, inherited a schedule that included back-to-back road games with Air Force and Colorado. When the Colorado game fell through, he learned through the coaching grapevine that Virginia needed a game.

"I'm from Chicago originally; my first Division I job [as an assistant] was at Northern Illinois," Marks said. "We used to play against Tony's father. We played them at Green Bay; we played them at Wisconsin. I have an unbelievable amount of respect for the kind of program [the Bennetts] run.

"To put our name next to them on the marquee is a privilege for our program."

To keep the game competitive until the closing minutes was a tribute to the Broncs. Pan American wasn't about to drop its program last spring "but it was an interesting set of circumstances," Marks said.

"There were NCAA issues. There was an internal investigation going on. You had an interim AD and an interim president and this silly guy who accepted the job under those circumstances."

Jared Maree, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who was one of four UTPA starters listed as guards, paced three Broncos in double figures with 14 points.

Virginia got a season-high 22 points and seven rebounds by junior postman Mike Scott, and sophomore Sylven Landesberg had 20 points and six rebounds.

It was Scott's second game back in the lineup after missing a month with a high-ankle sprain and he admitted to some rustiness.

When asked if he'd ever had a game when he'd scored 22 points and felt like he should have had 32, Scott responded, "Yeah, tonight."

Cavaliers shot 56.6 percent from the field, outrebounded the Broncs 33-25 and had 11 turnovers. Sophomore Sammy Zeglinski had 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field, six assists and four steals, while Calvin Baker tied a career-high with seven rebounds.

Virginia needs only two victories to match its 2008-2009 total, when the Cavaliers were 10-18, "but where's the quality?" Bennett said. "Tonight, we weren't alert and real feisty and real competitive and we'll have to have that. That effort is the entry fee to play at the high-major level."

Postgame Quotes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/05/2010

Virginia Head Coach Tony Bennett

Opening statement:
“I thought it was a poor performance. I didn’t think we came out and played well. Texas-Pan American has scrappy players who play hard. They missed a lot of shots – some point-blank shots that would have made that a lot closer than it was. We did not perform well. We were sloppy. We were unalert. That was disappointing coming off the UAB game. We will get back at it tomorrow to prepare for a different level of competition.”

On possibly looking past Texas-Pan American:
“It’s a hard team to play as a coach. They are 1-14 and they played pretty well against Air Force. You always respect the game first. You have to respect your opponent whether it’s a top-10 team or a team that’s not so good. If our guys disrespected their opponent, that would be very disappointing. I thought they certainly disrespected the game the way they approached it. We were just lackluster.”

On recent practices:
“We practiced pretty hard yesterday. I thought we prepared pretty well. I told them how they played this game would prepare them for ACC basketball. That obviously didn’t go over too well.”

Does this give you and your coaches something to start practice with tomorrow:
“It’s a long season. You’ve got to have an even keel. You don’t get too up when you win and you don’t get too discouraged if it’s not a great performance. I try to look at games and say ‘it’s about quality for us.’ And the quality wasn’t there. Whether you win or lose, you ask whether there was quality on the floor and I’m sure you can find some stretches where some guys did some things, but overall the quality was not present tonight. That’s what bothers me. It’s a win though and you’ll always take that. Certainly we will have to go to work and get their attention.”

On being 8-4:
“There have been some steps forward. I try not to look at this and get too carried away with the record and rather look at quality. I thought for the most part it was a quality performance against UAB and I thought we were making steps in the right direction. Hopefully we were just off tonight and we’ll come out better against NC State. The record, I’m not too caught up in. We’ll take 8-4, but you also look at some of those games we had chances in. From that standpoint, we have competed. I told our guys before the game, when you are alert and real competitive, I like the group sitting in front of me. But when you’re not, then it’s tough. Tonight we weren’t alert and tough and feisty. That’s the entry fee to play at the high major level and when that’s not there, you don’t belong. We’ll have to bring some effort and execution along with it.”

On Mike Scott:
“He made some nice plays. I thought he was solid on the offensive end and rusty on the defensive end. It’s nice to have a guy like that when you’re struggling and then you can dump it in to him. He’s got to bring a complete performance on both ends of the floor, and we’ll need that from him.”
________________________________________

Texas-Pan American Head Coach Ryan Marks

Opening Statement:
“For us, these types of games are great opportunities and privileges, to bring guys into a building like this and play this caliber of a team like Virginia. We have done this a few times this year and have had a little bit of a rugged road. Our guys understand if you are going to be able to compete and be a factor in the outcome, you have to play a perfect 40 minutes. I thought we played 32 minutes tonight about as well as we are capable of playing. The eight minutes at the end of the first half, when we came unglued, was the major difference in the game.”

On the stress of travel:
“We have hit fatigue on the road before because we had a stretch where we were on the road for 10 games earlier in the year. The first seven games we had good energy and the last three we were just out of gas; because of both travel and getting into exams. I thought we were pretty fresh tonight. Obviously we are out of school with no classes right now. We had two days between playing Air Force and here. We had a chance to take it easy.”

On the closeness of the game midway through the first half:
“We were able to score early and be competitive and that takes the monkey off your back a little bit. Guys feel like they can play a little looser offensively and they were going to be able to score.”
 

Postgame Notes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/05/2010
VIRGINIA BASKETBALL
Postgame Notes
Virginia 72, Texas-Pan American 53

Team Notes
• Virginia ended the first half on a 17-2 run
• Seven of Virginia’s eight wins have been by double figures
• Virginia won its 23rd consecutive game against a first-time opponent
• The Cavaliers shot 56.6 percent (30-53) from the floor, the fifth time this season they have shot 50 percent or better
• Virginia tied season highs with 30 field goals and 22 assists

Individual Notes
• Mike Scott had a season-high 22 points
• Scott had his first 20-point game of the season and the second of his career
• Scott scored in double figures for the seventh time this season and the 27th time in his career
• Scott led the team in rebounding with seven and has led the team in rebounding in every game he has played this season
• Sylven Landesberg (20 pts) scored in double figures for the 12th time this season (every game) and the 35th time in his career
• Landesberg had his fourth 20-point game of the season and the 16th of his career
• Virginia had two 20-point scorers in the same game for the first time since Nov. 16, 2008 vs. VMI (also Scott and Landesberg)
• Sammy Zeglinski (13 pts) scored in double figures for the eighth time this season and the 18th time in his career
• Zeglinski had a season-high six assists and a season-high four steals

Player Career Highs
• Calvin Baker tied a career high with seven assists
 

Cavaliers win last tuneup
By Whitey Reid
Published: January 6, 2010
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When the University of Texas-Pan American starting team took the court on Tuesday night against Virginia, there were some double takes from those in attendance.

If there is such a thing as an All-Airport team — a squad that looks the part of a college basketball outfit (tall and imposing) as it walks through an airport — the Broncs were the exact opposite.

None of the starters were above 6-foot-7, most looked like they’d never seen the inside of a weight room, and one player, Aaron Urbanus — generously listed at 6 feet — could have easily passed for a high school J.V. player.

For the better part of Tuesday night’s game, Virginia players seemed keenly aware of these facts — not to mention the visitors’ 1-14 record heading in.

As scintillating as their upset win over UAB was last Wednesday, their 72-53 victory over UTPA was just as lackluster.

Virginia played down to its competition throughout — a bad sign since the Cavaliers open ACC play on Saturday at N.C. State.

“We did not perform well,” said Virginia coach Tony Bennett. “We were sloppy, we were unalert.

“That was disappointing coming off the UAB game.”

Virginia had its second-best shooting performance of the season (57 percent), but didn’t maul the undersized Broncs on the boards the way they should have — they had just an eight-rebound edge.

“We didn’t come out with a lot of energy,” said Virginia junior Mike Scott. “We were lackluster. Playing against these teams, you can’t play to their level. You just have to beat him. I think we let them stay around too long.”

Scott, who was back in the starting lineup for the first time in over a month, led Virginia with 22 points and seven rebounds. Sylven Landesberg had 20 points and six rebounds. Calvin Baker tied a career-high with seven assists.

In the first half, Virginia (8-4) came out in a funk, while the undersized Broncs (1-15) played with spunk. A layup by Luis Valera tied the game at 18 with 11:35 to go.

UVa led just 23-21 with five minutes remaining before closing the half on a 17-2 run. The highlights of the spurt included a pair of Sammy Zeglinski 3-pointers and two inside buckets from Scott.

The Cavaliers led 40-23 at the break.

A strong start to begin the second stanza could have easily erased their first-half woes, but the Wahoos immediately allowed a 3-pointer to Urbanus and their play never really got any better.

Even late in the game, with key rotation players still in, Virginia was getting beat off the dribble for 3-point plays.

“We let [Bennett] down tonight,” said Zeglinski, who had 13 points, six assists and four steals. “It was pretty disappointing to come out with a poor effort like this, especially when we took a step forward in the UAB game.

“Now we kind of took a step back.”

Landesberg said that Virginia probably didn’t respect its opponent the way it should have.

“You definitely try and look past [what they looked like], but when you’re on the court, it’s kind of tough,” Landesberg said. “I mean, I was standing next to some of them and I don’t think some of the guys could touch my head.

“It was just weird playing against that, but they kept in the game for a while, and we just took a lot of things for granted.”

Some of Bennett’s harshest criticism pertained to his team’s mental state.

“You always play against the game and you always respect the game first…and you respect your opponent and you fear no one — whether it’s a top 10 team or a team that’s not so good,” he said.

“If our guys disrespected our opponent, I would be very disappointed. I thought they certainly disrespected the game the way they approached it. We were just lackluster.”

Landesberg, who had one of the only crowd-pleasing moments of the game — a sweet one-handed throwdown on Valera — said there is a ton of work to do before Saturday.

“This is definitely not the performance we would have wanted,” he said. “We didn’t show our competitive spirit. We’re a lot better than this. We all know this.

“I think we’re physically ready for N.C. State. We just have to mentally prepare and learn we can’t take teams for granted.”

Added Bennett: “We did not look sharp tonight. I wish we could say it more eloquently, but we were poor.”

Virginia disappointed with 72-53 win over Texas-Pan American
By Zach Berman
Wednesday, January 6, 2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Virginia's game against Texas-Pan American was designed as no more than a schedule filler, the type of matchup added merely to record another home game -- and another win -- before the conference season begins.

For that reason, the Cavaliers' 72-53 victory did not serve much significance other than a final on-court tuneup before the ACC schedule begins Saturday at North Carolina State. In fact, Tuesday's win left Virginia (8-4) feeling as if it lost.

Texas-Pan American (1-15) would likely have trouble against an ACC team's second unit, so any positives in Virginia's performance must be accepted with the caveat of the competition. The negatives were of more concern for Coach Tony Bennett following the victory.

"When we're not clicking, when we're not sharp and alert, we become not a great team, and that showed tonight," Bennett said. "So, hopefully that'll give us a good look of how sharp we have to be, because we did not look sharp or good tonight. I wish I could say it more eloquently, but we were poor."

Bennett always looks to defense first, and the Cavaliers lacked defensive intensity. The Broncs were able to dribble into the lane against Virginia's man-to-man defense, which is specifically designed to keep opponents out of the lane.

Elements that the team specifically worked on during Monday's encouraging practice were missing. Bennett used words such as "sloppy" and "unalert" to describe his players, and said that the game would have been closer had the Broncs converted shots.

With Virginia fresh off a victory over then-No. 24 Alabama-Birmingham, Bennett warned his team that Tuesday had the makings of a "trap game." He felt that his players' approach "disrespected the game," spoiling an opportunity he hoped would catapult them into the ACC season.

"He was emphasizing don't come out flat, we just got to focus on us, we got to get better, because we got ACC starting on Saturday," guard Sammy Zeglinski said. "Unfortunately, he knew there was a chance of that happening, and that's exactly what happened. It's disappointing, because I thought we were going in the right direction, and tonight was definitely a step back. But we got three days to regroup and focus in on the ACC schedule."

The scoring was not as much a problem, with forward Mike Scott leading the team with 22 points and Sylven Landesberg adding 20. Virginia shot 56.6 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from beyond the three-point line, but the offense also struggled with foolish turnovers. The Cavaliers entered the game averaging 10.5 turnovers per game and committed 11, including a first-half sequence in which they threw a pass into the Broncs' hands on consecutive possessions.

"We just have to get better in every area," Bennett said. "I wish I could say it was just one thing, but I thought most areas were below average in that game."

Nonetheless, the Cavaliers have now won four straight games. It is the longest such streak since December 2007. Selected to finish 11th of 12 teams in the ACC preseason poll, Virginia plays the No. 12 and No. 10 teams in two of the first three games of the conference schedule. That presents the possibility to continue the current surge -- as long as the team plays better than it did Tuesday, even though it was a 19-point victory.

"We can't play like that anywhere in the ACC, against any teams, if we want to win any games," Landesberg said. "We know that, but tonight we didn't show it."
 

Chip West Joins Virginia Football Staff
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/05/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Virginia head football coach Mike London announced Chip West has joined the Cavalier football coaching staff. He becomes the fifth member of London's staff. His specific position assignment will be announced at a future date.
A Hampton, Va., native, West most recently was the assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach for head coach Bobby Wilder at Old Dominion. He was responsible for recruiting the Hampton Roads and Tidewater areas for the Monarchs. ODU went 9-2 in 2009 in its first season as a NCAA FCS program.
"Chip West has a measured amount of success as both a coach and a recruiter," London said. "He is a local product from the Tidewater area and he has earned the respect of a lot of coaches in that area who feel he does a very good job, including Bobby Wilder, his coach at Old Dominion. He will be an excellent addition to our staff in terms of both the X's and O's of teaching and coaching and his enthusiasm and energy as a recruiter. He is committed to helping bring some of the top student-athletes in the state to UVa to pursue their athletic and academic goals."
Prior to joining the staff at Old Dominion, West coached at James Madison for three seasons (2004-2006) overseeing the defensive backs, including free safety Tony LeZotte, a 2005 All-American and Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the Atlantic 10 co-rookie of the year as a freshman. The Dukes won the NCAA Division I-AA national championship in 2004, finishing 13-2. In 2006 JMU returned to the FCS playoffs, losing in the first round at Youngstown State.
"It is an honor to be a part of the University of Virginia and I am very excited to join coach London's staff," West said. "After I finished my graduate assistant position at West Virginia, I worked the Virginia summer football camps and I was able to get to know coach London. We have stayed in touch over the years, so I think this will make for an easy transition.
"As a native of Virginia, I take great pride in having the opportunity to work for and represent the University of Virginia and its football program. I plan on working as hard as I can and being the best coach I can be."
West coached the defensive backs at Fordham in 2003 when the Rams were 9-3. He served as the wide receivers coach at Colgate for four years and worked as a graduate assistant at West Virginia. Colgate shared the 2002 Patriot League title with Fordham, finishing with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-1 league mark. The Raiders led the Patriot League in 2002 in total offense, averaging 392.5 yards per game, including 215.0 yards per game passing. In 1999 Colgate won the Patriot League title and competed in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
As a graduate assistant at West Virginia for two seasons, West worked with the defense as the Mountaineers participated in the Carquest and Insight.com bowls.
The 39-year-old West played football at Kecoughtan High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in computer information systems from Livingstone College, and his master's in physical education from West Virginia while working as a graduate assistant coach. West was an all-CIAA wide receiver at Livingstone. He has a son, Justin, and a daughter, Jada.
West joins Anthony Poindexter, Vincent Brown, Jeff Hanson and Mike Faragalli, assistant coaches London announced as members of his staff in December.
 

White: London Adds Another Key Piece
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 01/04/2010
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- James Madison football coach Mickey Matthews hired Chip West away from Fordham.

Old Dominion coach Bobby Wilder hired West away from JMU.

UVa coach Mike London hired West away from ODU.

West, 39, is a wanted man in coaching circles, and for good reason, former bosses say.

"He is superior in all areas," Matthews said. "He's great with kids. He has a great rapport with recruits and players, and I thought Chip was an excellent teacher on the field. The other quality Chip brings to the table is, he's a very hard worker."

Wilder said: "Chip is one of the best coaches that I've had the pleasure of working with in my 20-year coaching career, and I've worked with a lot of good coaches."

UVa announced West's hiring Tuesday morning. He's expected to coach the Cavaliers' cornerbacks, though his assignment isn't set.

London, whom Virginia hired in December to replace Al Groh, has filled five of the nine assistant slots on his staff. Previously hired were Anthony Poindexter, Jeff Hanson, Vincent Brown and Mike Faragalli.

At ODU, West served as assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and secondary coach. He joined the Monarchs in 2007, two years before their inaugural season.

ODU finished 9-2 in 2009.

"His mark will be on the Old Dominion football program for a long, long time," Wilder said. "I say that because he helped lay the foundation of this program, and this program has proven to be the best start-up in FCS history."

Like London, whom he's known for years, West grew up in Hampton. London graduated from Bethel High; West, from rival Kecoughtan.

"I had a few cousins that played at Bethel in the same time frame Mike did, so as a little kid I used to always be around watching those guys practice," West said Monday in his McCue Center office.

When West was a 12th-grader, Curt Newsome was Kecoughtan's head coach. Newsome is now an assistant at Virginia Tech.

In recent years, they've crossed paths in recruiting, and "it was basically no contest, being at JMU or ODU versus Virginia Tech," West said. "But now it'll be a little bit different.

"He's definitely someone I love and respect. He taught me a whole lot outside of football, just in life, period."

For most of the past decade, West has spent a part of each summer at UVa, working at Groh's camps. He kept up with London through the years, and the "conversation was always easy, because we were from the Peninsula," West said.

"Over the years," London said Tuesday afternoon, "you see guys in the same recruiting areas, you see them at games, conventions, things like that."

West "was one of the ones on a short list that fit the criteria in terms of what I was looking for, in terms of knowing the area, being well-respected in what he's done, a local guy from Kecoughtan but also having coached at Madison and ODU," London said.

"Having been at Fordham and Colgate, he knows how to recruit student-athletes. So he knows all those aspects, plus he's a good football coach. It was another fit, somebody who knows the lay of the land, knows [high school] coaches, knows how to coach."

He has recruiting ties around the state, but Tidewater -- the famed "7-5-7" -- always has been West's main territory. As a JMU assistant, he landed such stars as Rodney Landers (Virginia Beach) and Arthur Moats (Portsmouth) from that area.

West attributes his success as a recruiter to "building relationships with the coaches and the student-athletes that we recruit, and the trust that comes with it also."

In 2004, West's first season at JMU, the Dukes won the Division I-AA national title. He also coached under Matthews in 2005 and '06, after which Wilder targeted West for the staff he was assembling in Norfolk.

"I had asked around to see who was the best recruiter in the state of Virginia, particularly in the 7-5-7," Wilder recalled Monday, and West's name kept coming up.

"What makes him the most effective as a recruiter is he's a genuine personality," Wilder said. "People see from the very first time they talk to him that what you see is what you get, and that approach has proven to be very successful for him, no matter what school he's coached at."

Matthews said: "The best way to describe him is, What you see is what you get. He's very honest. He's as solid as a rock."

West was an all-CIAA wideout at Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer information systems in 1993.

He later earned a master's in physical education from West Virginia, where he was a graduate assistant in 1997 and '98.

Four seasons as wide receivers coach at Colgate and one year as secondary coach at Fordham followed. In 2004, West retured to his home state. And now he's moved another rung up the ladder in college football.

"Being from the state of Virginia and being able to coach collegiately at the highest level, I take much pride in that," West said, "and take pride in being at the University of Virginia."

The Cavaliers went 3-9 in 2009, their third losing season in four years. West is undaunted as he prepares to start recruiting for UVa.

"I always view the University of Virginia as a good place," he said. "I don't think it's a tough sell at all. And the key words are, it's the University of ..."

 

West quickly hits recruiting trail
By Norm Wood 247-4642
January 6, 2010

If there were any doubts Chip West would hit the ground running as soon as he was given the green light Tuesday to begin his duties as an assistant football coach at the University of Virginia, he answered the question right away.

"Hey, what can I do for you?" said West, a 39-year-old Kecoughtan High graduate and Hampton native who has been hired to join U.Va.'s defensive coaching staff by Bethel High graduate and U.Va. coach Mike London. "I'm gettin' ready to go, ready to go, ready to go, ready to GO."

Where was West going? Back to the telephones. Back to the road.

With less than a month left before National Signing Day, his life will revolve around trying to stock U.Va.'s football program with a few hidden gems and late commitments from the Hampton Roads, which will be his primary recruiting territory.

Since March 2007, he recruited the area for Old Dominion, where he was the assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive-backs coach. Now, he'll be London's point man in Hampton Roads as the new coaching staff tries to revive a U.Va. team that went 3-9 last season.

It's no small task, but West says he's ready for the gig.

Q: Considering you're both products of the Peninsula District, how far back does your relationship with U.Va. coach Mike London go?

A: We've known each other for some years now. It just seems like we've always known each other. I can't pinpoint the exact time. Even when I was trying to get in to the coaching profession, I think Mike was coaching at (Boston College) at the time (1999). He was very helpful and encouraging to me at that time. My cousins were a little bit older than me — there's about a 10-year difference — so they got to know (London). I just remember meeting him pretty much in the '90's, and working with him through camps and staying in touch. When I first got my break as a full-time coach at Colgate, we just stayed in touch after that over the years.

Q: Considering you'll still be recruiting in this area, you'll continue to cross paths with (Virginia Tech assistant coach) Curt Newsome, who coached you at Kecoughtan. Has Curt been a mentor to you at all? Has he called you since you got the U.Va. job? How do you feel about being on the same ACC level recruiting against him, and having to go head-to-head with him for recruits on the Southside?

A: Coach Newsome has called me. He has been a mentor to me throughout my life. He's somebody that I respect and that I love as a person. He taught me a lot of things outside of football. He called me to congratulate me. As far as going head-to-head against him, all I want to do is work as hard as I can.

Q: Oh, c'mon. Did Curt congratulate you, and then tell you he wanted to whip your (behind in recruiting) or anything like that?

A: No, he just congratulated me. That was about all.

Q: Hey, being a Hampton guy, a Peninsula District product, knowing the area and all the high school football coaches for as long as you have through recruiting and camps and things like that, is this area unique in terms of what's required to get a top-notch recruit out of here? I mean, given all the competition for recruits, what does it take to be a successful recruiter in this area?

A: Whether it's right there at home, or whether it's anywhere in the country, I think it's about building relationships. Along with the relationships, people and head football coaches have to feel trust within you — the person recruiting their student-athletes. The biggest thing for me is relationships and trust.

Q: Do you feel some pressure, Chip? I only mention that because so much has been made about how U.Va. needs to recruit this area better than it did under Al Groh.

A: I put enough pressure on myself. To me, I don't feel as much pressure as the average person may think. I'm just going to do what I normally do. I'm going to keep building relationships and the trust and stay true to the student-athletes. I mean, I'm pretty sure anybody feels pressure with any job they're going to take, especially in this business, but it's no different than going to ODU and not having any facilities when we first started out or any stadium and then being able to execute their vision. I'd say we had a fair amount of success there. Actually, I'd say we had a lot of success there in the time I was there. So, there's no more pressure now than there was then.

Q: I guess you're in Charlottesville (on Tuesday). When do you get back to the recruiting grind? Are you coming back to Hampton Roads (today)? Maybe sooner?

A: Uh yeah, I'd say there's a good chance I'll be back sooner.

West joins UVa staff
By Jay Jenkins
Published: January 6, 2010
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It would have taken nothing more than a glimpse into the past for first-year Virginia coach Mike London to visualize why hiring Chip West as an assistant coach made sense.

Once an outsider in the coaching world — as was London for a period — West eventually got his break in the profession and has emerged as one of the most diligent recruiters in the country in Virginia’s Tidewater region.

On Tuesday, London made it official that West, 39, would be the fifth coach to join his staff. West is leaving his post as the assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at Old Dominion, a program that just completed its first season of football at the NCAA FCS level.

“West has a measured amount of success as both a coach and a recruiter,” London said in a release. “He is a local product from [Hampton] and he has earned the respect of a lot of coaches in that area who feel he does a very good job, including Bobby Wilder, his coach at Old Dominion.

“He will be an excellent addition to our staff in terms of both the X’s and O’s of teaching and coaching and his enthusiasm and energy as a recruiter. He is committed to helping bring some of the top student-athletes in the state to UVa to pursue their athletic and academic goals.”

Prior to joining the newly-created staff at ODU, West was the defensive backs coach at James Madison from 2004-06, coached the secondary at Fordham in 2003 and was the wide receivers coach at Colgate in the four years prior.

A graduate of Kecoughtan High and Livingstone (N.C.) College, West is excited about the challenge that awaits to improve Virginia’s recruiting efforts and the reunion with London, whom he considers a close friend.

“It is an honor to be a part of the University of Virginia and I am every excited to join coach London’s staff,” West said in a release. “After I finished my graduate assistant position at West Virginia, I worked the Virginia summer football camps and I was able to get to know coach London. We have stayed in touch over the years, so I think this will make for an easy transition.

“As a native of Virginia, I take great pride in having the opportunity to work for and represent the University of Virginia and its football program. I plan on working as hard as I can and being the best coach I can be.”

Virginia has not officially announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Jim Reid, nor the appointment of an offensive coordinator, but an announcement is expected on both fronts by Monday.

Former Virginia offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave remains London’s top target if available. Musgrave coached the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterbacks this season and has been rumored to be interested in a coordinator position at the NFL level.
 

Tchani Leaves Legacy at UVa
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 01/05/2010
Jan. 5, 2010
2:38 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- His college career comprised only 37 games -- 13 in 2008 and 24 in '09. Still, Tony Tchani left his mark on the UVa men's soccer program.

"He was instrumental in helping us win a national championship," Cavaliers coach George Gelnovatch said Tuesday, "and if a kid is going to be the No. 1 or 2 pick in the draft, it's hard not to support him."

Tchani, a 6-4, 185-pound midfielder from Norfolk, is one of 12 players who opted to leave college early to compete in Major League Soccer as part of the Generation adidas program.

Others in the group include Teal Bunbury and Blair Gavin of Akron, Corben Bone and Ike Opara of Wake Forest, and Amobi Okugo of UCLA. The Generation adidas program gives guaranteed contracts to promising young players.

The MLS draft is Jan. 14 in Philadelphia, and Tchani is expected to be among the first players chosen. As such, Tchani can expect to make "pretty good money," Gelnovatch said.

A knee injury cut short Tchani's first season at UVa, but he did enough to be named ACC freshman of the year.

As a sophomore, he was the second-leading scorer, with 20 points (8 goals and 4 assists), on a team that beat Akron in a penalty-kick shootout in the NCAA championship game.

The loss of Tchani, a first-team All-American in 2009, is a blow to the Wahoos, but "it could have been a lot worse, believe me," Gelnovatch said.

Other pro prospects on the national-championship team included freshman Will Bates and sophomore Brian Ownby. Each will be back next season. A sports hernia (and national-team obligations) limited Ownby's impact at UVa in 2009.

Whether forward Chris Agorsor, whose college career has been marred by injuries, will return for his junior season is uncertain. Gelnovatch plans to meet with him this month to discuss Agorsor's plans.

Whatever Agorsor decides, Gelnovatch said, "I'm pretty happy with having Ownby and Bates back, and they still have not played together much at all. Having those guys back is going to be a fun thing."

-- Jeff White