Saw this on twitter and could find very little info except the tweet sent out.
Honored & blessed to announce that I am now an Offensive Assistant Football Coach at Virginia Tech. Go Hokies! pic.twitter.com/nuRVrHDjsW— Derrick Evans (@CoachEvansVT) January 29, 2017
Apparently he was a high school football coach from West Virginia based on his twitter timeline.
Did we have an opening? I'm curious about his talents/abilities/connections. Would appreciate any facts/input.
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Whoever he is, I'm a fan. VT needs to expand their support staff to compete with the big boys.
So many questions. How did a high school coach from WV even hit our radar? Mitchell? What are his credentials/ why this particular high school coach? What position will he be coaching, if there is one?
Still curious here as well. Hoping one of the TKP Staff can come through.
$20 says we only hired him to flip Lawson.../s
Take your GD leg.
Looks like he's been coaching in the Huntington area, can't really find much about him though
He won't be a field coach at least not until the NCAA committee approves the new on field coaching position, so more like a quality control behind the scenes guy.
Interesting. Wonder how big of a role he'll have
He was apparently an aspiring politician
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/w-va-house-candidate-derrick-evans-d/arti...
I assume he was not successful in his endeavor
We don't talk about politics on this site.
/s
nice
This is the kind of thing Bama does, I like this development.
To be fair Bama would hire the recovering alcoholic and/or asshole.
Edit: Comment removed. Came off the wrong way. My b.
Tech under Beamer did it also FYI
With Lawson's Head Coach, for a year. Wonder what happened to that guy? Did he transfer too?
He did back to high school.
Sounds to me like we're starting to build out the staff to compete with our peers and have a bigger recruiting footprint than we've had in the past.
Which, is a good thing
If, IF true, then I wonder if we get a chance to start recruiting Ohio more. We've been in Michigan already, and frankly I've wondered why we didn't hit it harder. Its an easy drive to the Burg, with plenty of talent.
Perhaps they've id'd some up & coming studs coming out of WV where he's got ties and he can help bring them to the 'burg?
Not even WV finds players in WV it's a recruiting wasteland.
However, the coaches that have come out of the state are nothing to sneeze at featuring Saban, the Bowdens, Jimbo Fisher, and Lou Holtz.
Lou Holtz!?
The only three star or above in the 2018 class currently from West Virginia. Does hold a Tech offer but is currently 100% to the Cousins.
Dante Stills, 4 Star Defensive Tackle
Fairmont is about twenty five minutes from Morgantown, so he is playing in the shadow of the Mountaineers already.
His older brother is currently headed to WVU, so I don't see him going anywhere else.
That being said, there are seven 3 stars in WV this year - which is higher than normal.
Isn't Randy Moss form WV?
He made the smarter and correct decision, went to Marshall (along with Pennington and Leftwich).
Signed with Notre Dame, never made it there due to discipline issues, 'transferred' to FSU, violated probation, got kicked out, wound up at Marshall. Seemed to clean up is act a little after that.
I don't know if it's a mid-major thing or just a Marshall thing, but they tend to go after high-caliber guys who don't qualify immediately or couldn't stay out of trouble in hope that they will straighten out. If you remember Jaquan Yulee, the linebacker from Indian River who committed to Alabama over Tech, he is now at Marshall. He was basically guaranteed a starting spot his true freshman year, but didn't qualify.
It's a Marshall thing. My Father-in-law went there and follows their program pretty closely, and talks about how they do what they can to give kids a second chance.
Yes. Near Charleston I think.
Yes, Randy Moss and Jason Williams were a constant headache for me during my high school basketball days. We actually got by them my Senior year in the WV playoffs but it took everything my team had.
Moss also was a headache on the football field as well, although our MLB knocked him unconscious on a crossing route in a state playoff game.
Honestly, back then Randy was better at basketball than he was as a wide receiver. He was named Mr Football and Mr Basketball in 1995, Williams was Mr Basketball in 1994, when Dupont won the state title.
Belle, just north of Chareston.
The classic Nike ad
https://youtu.be/VqYz-KJS1J4?t=1
https://youtu.be/kr6aQDxj7D8
A teenage wasteland??
LMAO! Love that song. You could pair the song "Bad Motor Scooter" by Montrose with this vid as well!
He IMO had the best vision as a RB to find holes and follow blocks. Unsung hero but we all remember that Maryland game, hehe. Welcome back D. Evans!
Uhhh...
Darren Evans, brah
But maybe I missed the hehe
okay...no news on this guy on any coaching sites anywhere, who is this guy? I see that we already have a few Grad assistants unless some one's 2 year max expired
Evans is here because of the good ole boy system. That's it. He has no real coaching experience, outside of being the offensive coordinator at his own highschool with 3 plays in his playbook. They had a couple of the best players ever to attend the school on that team and the plays were give the ball to Presley. They were shut out in the playoffs. Before this, the guys only job was being a substitute teacher. No shame in it, but it's ridiculous that he has a division 1 job, let alone at virginia tech.
Anyway, I wouldn't expect any value from this guy, except collecting a paycheck.
Except he isnt collecting a paycheck. He is on staff as a volunteer per other reports in this thread. Likely he is here to gain experience in hopes of finding a paid gig somewhere.
This is right up there with the "Ya'll are going to downvote me for saying this" in the early competition for best(worst) post of the year.
I mean, he does have a linkedin. Maybe that's how we found him?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-evans-665929111
Twitter Stalking shows he knows one of Memphis' current coaches. Not sure if that coach was there under Fuente or not
Or maybe he is a really good coach
that's pretty impressive
Yeah, wasn't trying to imply he was handed the job through connections. Just that in order to get his obviously well deserved accomplishments noticed by a school that doesn't regularly deal with you it would probably help to have a connection somehow. I am confident, especially after seeing his bio, that he deserves it. I am excited either way that we are bringing in more talent on the staff side to match the extra talent we are bringing in on the player side
Oh I wasn't trying to insinuate otherwise. Just doing my own Twitter stalking and adding more fuel to the fire.
I suspect it comes down to both. he seems to be a good coach and his connection through Memphis ties probably got him on Fuente's radar.
Interesting his Twitter handle already had VT in it. Or can you change that and it updates all your old stuff?
the latter
I did some serious digging. They were teammates at West Liberty University. Along with Toledo strength coach Brad Bichey and University of Houston linebacker coach Dan Carrell. Auburn Strength Coaches Ryan Russell and Bryan Tatum also went to West Liberty. Other West Liberty coaching alum include Mickey Marotti head Ohio State strength coach and former WVU o-line coach Ron Crook who is now at Cinci. Jon Heacock the D.C. at Iowa State also has made a coaching stop at West Liberty.
They were college teammates
If Evanseses can coach as well as they play, he'll do fine.
I read the above with this voice in my head:
Not exactly sure of the plural (pretty sure it's Evanses, but what do I know), I was being facetious and that was my intention.
Stupid Flanderses.
I have never cross posted anything from another forum, don't think I am out of line?!?
Over on VTScoop (in front of the firewall) a Marshall fan posted some points of interest:
Was an outstanding DB at a D2 school
Most recently a great offensive minded coach at single A high school
Always a hard worker
Joins VT staff as a volunteer
All of that sounds excellent.
Especially the volunteer part. Getting anyone to assist the staff in a volunteer capacity is a definite plus.
I bet this guy works his ass off. It's his shot to make it in the league. Nothing but good vibes here.
Yeah I know a guy who's a "volunteer" for a softball coaching staff at another university.
*Puts on tin foil hat*
Volunteer high school coach from WV hmm? Must be trying to learn the secrets and intricacies of our offense and defense to feed back to WVU before our game at FedEx! We have a spy!!1! /s
I didn't even realize volunteer coaches were a thing at the D1 Football level. I guess this is like taking an unpaid internship to try to gain experience and network.
His bio says he was a former defensive back in the Arena Football League.
Evans is here because of the good ole boy system. That's it. He has no real coaching experience, outside of being the offensive coordinator at his own highschool with 3 plays in his playbook. They had a couple of the best players ever to attend the school on that team and the plays were give the ball to Presley. They were shut out in the playoffs. Before this, the guys only job was being a substitute teacher. No shame in it, but it's ridiculous that he has a division 1 job, let alone at virginia tech.
Anyway, I wouldn't expect any value from this guy, except collecting a paycheck at some point
First do you have to throw a guy under the bus second who is his connection on the team that got him this job? What system?
Previously stated, he's a volunteer bro.
Why did you post this twice?
Why did you post this twice?
I saw what you did there.
Twice.
ok, let's just assume he is coming from the good ole boy system. An "olecountryboy" like yourself can likely appreciate that many people get jobs through "who they know". It is common practice all around the world. You either know someone or you hustle, or both.
regardless of whether he is collecting a paycheck or not, this is an assistant position that is more about job experience and taking small tasks to free up time for the main coaching staff. so why do you care so much?
I mean isn't that what college is 50% about, meeting people that will one day help you get ahead in the world.
indeed it is, and the other 50% is about meeting people to .. uh... spend time with.
Did you make an account just to post this? Either way an apology is a great way to recover lost turkey legs...
Unless you've already been downvoted beyond the -25 posting threshold...
It was hilarious earlier when I checked their profile page...
Member for 9 hours and 11 minutes. Turkey legs: -23.
Hell of an introduction.
You're 100% ri.......oh wait, this isn't sarcastic? Well crap, this is awkward
Talk about sour grapes. It sounds like "Olecountryboy" is one of the following:
a) a coach who also wanted the Offensive Assistant position but was "wait-listed" (doubtful)
or
b) a player/parent who didn't make the playoffs because he owned by a kid named Presley in the run game (highly probable).
Olecountryboy is a WVU fan according to my #sauces.
My friend's sister's boyfriend works with him at the Grand Home furnishings in Beckley and said he buys a new couch every year for when they play their biggest rival Marshall.
Gee, and I took him for a spaniard. OLE!!
This is right up there with the "Ya'll are going to downvote me for saying this" as early candidates for best(worst) post of the year.
Good job covering all bases.
Olecountryboy, meet Arnie.
Arnie, meet Olecountryboy.
Arnie is in the penalty box and cannot enjoy Eggo waffles anymore. I suspect you will not be having any waffles too, Olecountryboy.
Five days ago Evans updated his LinkedIn status:
"I sent out roughly 2,000 emails trying to join a D1 football staff. I received roughly 1,999 no's or no response at all. It was all worth it for the one yes that I received from Virginia Tech!
People are always asking how I got on here at Va Tech. Persistence, luck, and the grace of God brought me to Blacksburg."
Got to respect the determination/hustle, I hope he succeeds.
Derrick Evans LinkedIn Status