U.Va. football coaching update
Jeff White
Dec 07, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Kudos to Jamie Oakes and Chris Wallace of the CavsCorner.com for breaking the news this afternoon that three U.Va. football assistants, including offensive coordinator Mike Groh, are leaving Al Groh’s staff. The elder Groh, as many predicted, will be back for a ninth season as coach at his alma mater.

Since I saw the CavsCorner.com report, I’ve been making calls and have received confirmation that Mike Groh, defensive line coach Levern Belin and secondary coach Steve Bernstein are leaving.

I’m also hearing that running backs coach Anthony Poindexter, who was an All-America safety for George Welsh at U.Va., may work with the secondary in 2009. And that defensive coordinator Bob Pruett might be named assistant head coach.

If Pruett moves into a new role, look for Bobby Diaco to replace him as defensive coordinator. Diaco is officially U.Va.’s linebackers coach, though in reality Al Groh does much of that work. Diaco also coordinates the Cavaliers’ special teams.

I would not be at all surprised if Ron Prince, who was fired this season as Kansas State’s head coach, returned to U.Va. as offensive coordinator.

No word on when any official announcements from U.Va. might come.

U.Va. assistant Mike Groh fired in shakeup
The head coach's son, who was the offensive coordinator, is among three Cavaliers assistants booted from the staff.
By NORM WOOD AND DAVID TEEL ; | 247-4642 | 247-4636
December 8, 2008

Virginia offensive coordinator Mike Groh, whose offense has sputtered for three consecutive seasons, is among three Cavaliers assistant coaches who won't return to the coaching staff next season.

In addition to Groh, defensive-line coach Levern Belin and secondary coach Steve Bernstein won't be back with the staff. The cavscorner.com Web site first reported the news Sunday, and the Daily Press was able to confirm it.

U.Va. finished 5-7 for the second time in three seasons, losing its season finale 17-14 at Virginia Tech. U.Va. is 104th in the nation in total offense, averaging just 299.8 yards per game. Last season, U.Va. was 101st in total offense with 330.4 yards per game, and the Cavaliers were 113th in 2006 with 257 yards per game.

The '06 through '08 seasons were Mike Groh's only three as U.Va.'s offensive coordinator. He just completed his eighth season as a U.Va. assistant coach. He is the son of U.Va. coach Al Groh, whose job status was the subject of speculation since the loss to Virginia Tech. It was the Cavaliers' fifth consecutive loss to the Hokies.

With Mike Groh gone from U.Va.'s staff, former U.Va. offensive coordinator Ron Prince is a top candidate to return to the role. Prince resigned in November from Kansas State's head coach position after three seasons with the Wildcats.

Before taking the Kansas State job, which made him one of just six black head coaches in NCAA FBS (formerly Division I-A) football at the start of the '08 season, he was an assistant coach at U.Va. from '01 to '05, including a three-year stint as offensive coordinator.

Belin joined U.Va.'s staff in '05. After giving up just 107 rushing yards per game (third in the ACC and 13th in the nation) last season, U.Va. plummeted to 11th in the ACC and 75th in the nation in rush defense, surrendering an average of 150 yards per game.

Bernstein is in his third season as a U.Va. assistant coach. U.Va. was fifth in the ACC and 27th in the nation in pass defense this season, giving up an average of 184 passing yards per game.

Despite the decent pass yardage allowed, the Cavaliers had the fourth-lowest interception total (11) in the conference and opposing quarterbacks completed 59.2 percent of their passes against U.Va. In '07, the Cavaliers were eighth in the conference and 54th in the nation in pass defense (225 yards per game).


 

Mike Groh out as offensive coordinator
By Jay Jenkins
Published: December 8, 2008

Now, the first — and second and third — dominoes have fallen.
Several recruits that have verbally committed to play football at Virginia for the Class of 2009 were contacted Sunday evening and told that three assistant football coaches, including offensive coordinator Mike Groh, will not be retained on the Cavaliers’ coaching staff.
In addition to Groh, defensive line coach Levern Belin and secondary coach Steve Bernstein were told that they would not be returning.
A high-ranking Virginia official could not confirm the news, and sources indicated that current players have not been informed of the departures. But the coaching staff is planning to intensify recruiting efforts today with several of the committed players with visits.
“I talked to [recruiting coordinator Bob] Price and he filled me in and I am glad that he did,” said Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny, a verbal commitment in the class. “I was really looking forward to being coached by Coach Mike [Groh] and that was one of the reasons why I committed — he was the OC and the quarterback’s coach — but I understand the cruelty of coaching college football. That’s just part of reality.”
The move comes on the heels of Virginia’s second 5-7 season in three years, which kept the Cavaliers out of the postseason. The development also ends speculation in regards to the ultimate fate of head coach Al Groh.
Al Groh, boasting only a three-year contract after the school failed to add an additional year following the season, plans to be back for the 2009 campaign barring new developments, according sources. However, Al Groh will have a new staff member calling plays on offense.
Loved by most players and an easy target for the fan base, Mike Groh’s departure ends a three-year run that provided limited success. Over the past three seasons, the Cavaliers’ offense failed to crack the top 100 in total offense, finishing No. 104 in 2008, No. 101 in 2007 and No. 113 in 2006.
Mike Groh, a former Virginia quarterback and the son of head coach Al Groh, joined the staff in 2001 as the wide receivers coach. In 2003, the 36-year-old also coached the quarterbacks, a position he has manned solely since 2004.
Mike Groh was named the program’s offensive coordinator following the 2005 season after former offensive coordinator Ron Prince was named the head coach at Kansas State. His time as the offensive coordinator included a revolving door at quarterback as six different players started a game under center.
Metheny remains committed to play at Virginia despite the announcement and is excited to learn of the new hire.
“The head guy, Coach [Al] Groh, is the main guy and that’s the main thing,” Metheny said. “I think as long as we are under his watch that everything will keep ticking and UVa football will keep getting better. We all trust Coach Groh to bring in an excellent guy who will do a great job as the OC.
“We just have to sit back and wait and find out who the next guy is. Hopefully it is a guy that is easy to communicate with and all of us quarterbacks can get along with and spend a couple years of our lives with. I am sure Coach Groh will find the right guy.”
Prince, having since left his post at Kansas State, could ultimately be the hire. Attempts to reach Prince were unsuccessful Sunday night.
Belin, 39, had worked with the Cavaliers’ defensive linemen since his hire in 2005. His pupils included former All-American Chris Long and the unit showed promise at times this season despite lacking experience.
“It’s a shame. It was never just about football with Coach Belin — it was about making you a better person, as well,” said former nose tackle Allen Billyk. “He never lost focus of trying to make us a better team, and even this year I think he did a great job. He had three guys who had never really had that much playing time and by the end of the year that defensive line was playing pretty well.
“In those first couple of games it was not pretty and by the end of the year they had a pretty solid front wall built. He was just a stand-up guy. He was always there for you. He always wanted to have a personal relationship with you. He was always asking about your family and he was a real down-to-earth guy.”
Bernstein, who doubled as the assistant head coach, joined the staff prior to the 2006 season. Working directly with the cornerbacks this season, the 64-year-old was one of the most experienced coaches on the staff.
“He was a good coach,” said former Virginia safety Byron Glaspy. “He definitely knew a lot of stuff. I definitely wasn’t expecting that for sure.”
Bernstein’s departure will allow other changes on the staff. Defensive coordinator Bob Pruett is expected to become the associate head coach, allowing running backs coach Anthony Poindexter to move to the secondary, where he starred at Virginia. It also paves the way for linebackers coach Bob Diaco to become the defensive coordinator.
The move will allow Pruett, who has landed several promising targets in the Tidewater region, added time in recruiting efforts.

 

Dudley finalists well-known to fans
By Jeff White
Published: December 8, 2008

The finalists for the 2008 Dudley Award have become household names to football fans in this state. They're seniors who grew up in Virginia and have regularly made headlines for their exploits on the field.

In alphabetical order, the Dudley finalists are Virginia Tech cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris, James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers and University of Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim.

Harris helped the Hokies beat Boston College for the ACC championship Saturday at Tampa, Fla. Later that day, Landers led JMU past Villanova and into the semifinals of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The finalists for the award presented annually to the top state player in Division II, Division III or NAIA -- U.Va.-Wise quarterback Randy Hippeard, Emory & Henry all-purpose back Caleb Jennings and Christopher Newport tailback Tunde Ogun -- are less-experienced.

Hippeard, who starred at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, is a senior, but Ogun is a junior and Jennings is a sophomore. Ogun played at Douglas Freeman High School and Jennings at Richlands High School.

The winners of the Dudley and Division II/III/NAIA awards will be announced Thursday night during a banquet at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch sponsors the awards.

The Dudley, named after former U.Va. star "Bullet" Bill Dudley, is presented annually to the player of the year from state schools that compete in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision.

Chris Long, then a U.Va. senior, won the Dudley in 2007. Hampden-Sydney College wide receiver Drew Smith won the Division II/III/NAIA award last year.

Harris starred at Highland Springs High School, Landers at Tallwood High School in Virginia Beach and Sintim at Gar-Field High School in Dale City.

Landers, the Colonial Athletic Association's offensive player of the year, also is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top FCS player. Harris was named last week to the all-ACC first team, and Sintim was a second-team selection.

Each state college or university with a football team may nominate one player for the awards. A panel of 15 sports writers and broadcasters from across the state votes for three players in each group, with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

The top three vote-getters in each group are named finalists. No second round of voting is held.

Also at the banquet, the Touchdown Club of Richmond will honor Landers, Harris, U.Va. offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, University of Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, Hampden-Sydney tailback Josh Simpson, Randolph-Macon offensive lineman Kevin Wagner, Christopher Newport defensive end DeShaun Park and Virginia State linebacker Isaac Mitchell.
Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or .