Pieces

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As Hokie fans are already aware, there have been some new puzzle pieces added to an already crowded board. Below is a table of the coaches showing their old and new positions.

Coach Where They Were Where They Are Now
Billy Hite Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Administrator in Athletic Dept for Football
Shane Beamer Recruiting Coordinator at USC-e Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs Coach
Jim Cavanaugh Recruiting Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Recruiting Coordinator & High School Relations for Football
Cornell Brown Defensive Line Coach in the CFL Outside Linebackers Coach
Kevin Jones NFL Career Offensive Graduate Assistant

So let's look at how the new pieces fit, and where the old ones have been moved to.

After 33 years of coaching at Virginia Tech Billy Hite is moving off the field and into the offices. It's not a secret that he hasn't been the strongest recruiter, but he did do a lot of Frank's organizing and administrative work, as well as coach a lot of damn good running backs. His new job is now half of his old one, keeping Frank's house in order. This should be a less stressful position. Shane Beamer takes over as running backs coach, a position he coached for one season at Mississippi State. He's inexperienced for this job, but not only has he been mentored by Hite, who is still around, but he will get a lot of help from Kevin Jones. Jones, the former number one prep player in the nation, steeped with NFL experience couldn't have come back to Blacksburg at a better time for the Hokies. Shane will join Stinespring and Gray as the best recruiters on the staff and likely will be in charge of the Carolinas and other parts of SEC country.

Speaking of the SEC, moving Jim Cavanaugh to recruiting coordinator and high school relations in the program is a genius move. Cav is well respected for his no b.s. approach. He will handle official and unofficial visits as well giving more time to high school coaches who he already has a strong bond and familiarity with. Taking his spot on the coaching staff is Cornell Brown, a former All-American defensive end at Virginia Tech. This is his first collegiate coaching job, but jobs as a defensive line coach in NFL Europe and the CFL to go along with his NFL playing experience make him a natural for the job. Much like Shane, if he has any questions he can easily talk with Cav up in the offices. Brown has no formal recruiting experience, but his personality, resume and being a Virginia local makes the Richmond area look like a great fit.

It appears Frank took a good look at the changing landscape and convinced AD Jim Weaver to come off some money and create two more spots in the football offices. By doing so he moved two good coaches in jobs they were already doing and hired two younger and more diverse guys to turn up the wick. Shane Beamer is going to bring SEC recruiting to Tech minus the over-signing and cash under the table.

To Recap:

  • Separated staff admin jobs from coaching and hired capable people to run them. CHECK.
  • Added a couple of recruiters to the fold: CHECK.
  • Got younger, more energetic, fresher: CHECK, and CHECK.

Comments

good read

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Livin the Dream

Follow me @HokieBarek

some adjustments

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eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

right now

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eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

my info

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky