Head coach Justin Fuente announced Monday that 40-year coaching veteran Jon Tenuta is joining Virginia Tech as senior defensive analyst. Tenuta owns 19 seasons of experience as defensive coordinator and has been associated with programs that have made 19 bowl appearances during his career. He has coached over 40 players who have gone on to play professionally.
Tenuta most recently spent the past four seasons at the University of Cincinnati. He served as a senior defensive analyst in 2020 after a three-year stint as safeties coach for the Bearcats from 2017-19.
In addition to his tenure at Cincinnati, Tenuta's lengthy resume includes coaching stops at Virginia (2013-15), NC State (2010-12), Notre Dame (2008-09), Georgia Tech (2002-07), Ohio State (1996-2000), Oklahoma (1995), SMU (1989-94), Kansas State (1988), Marshall (1987-88), Vanderbilt (1984-85), Maryland (1983) and Virginia (1981-82).
Fuente was a quarterback at Oklahoma when Tenuta coached the Sooners defensive backs in 1995.
Full release from Virginia Tech: https://hokiesports.com/news/2021/2/15/football-staff-coach-fuente-adds-....
Mod edit: Replace with release notes from Virginia Tech..
Comments
Was just about to post this. Honestly seems like one of the smartest moves Fuente could make - the defensive version of bringing in Jerry Kill. 40+ years of experience, most recently being an analyst on a great Cinncinati defense (which he was safeties coach for three years prior) seems like a solid move. Not to mention time as a DC and assistant head coach? Happy to have him! (Ignore the fact that he's a UVA grad, and had two coaching stints there - not everyone can be perfect.)
This a heck of an addition for a QC coach. Now will they listen to anything he has to say?
The last two hires have been good additions, glad to have Tenuta on board.
Oh, well, considered my ears perked, let's go!
Great hire, it is good to see that Fuente is open to learning from experienced coaches. I think it is great, and it says a lot about Hamilton and ability to learn from others. Great hire. We need help on the D.
Dead ringer for my man Donald Sutherland. Never hurts to have a celebrity doppelganger on board.
Hahahaaa nice! Leg.
Counterpoint: Bruce Dern
Has Bruce Dern, Donald Sutherland, and Tenuta ever been seen together???
When I hear Jon Tenuta I see Phillip Wheeler blitzing
This seems like a great move. We have seen some adjustments being made and responses to changes that are encouraging.
Coach Tenuta ran very different systems than Justin Hamilton tried to use last year. I think he will give valuable perspective, particularly on the design of variations of zone blitzes. I love Bud Foster, and his brilliance was in part because he knew how to time zone blitzes. But, the design was predictable, so if an offense knew they were coming, it was relatively easy for a QB to throw behind the blitz. Hamilton had more variation, but Tenuta can work with him on timing and design to add more variety.
Plus, Tenuta is well versed in the ACC.
Agree French, saw a lot of his time at NC State and he made Audie Cole and Nate Irving into NFL draft picks with his zone blitz schemes.
Luke better not get out of line. His dad is blitz happy....he will bring the house to his side of the line at every practice.
Tech added a veteran coach in an off-field capacity, that seems like a really strong move. Perhaps a trend that continues down the road.
Happy to see some good news in this long off-season.
Awkwarrrrd
Family changes a lot of things. I imagine he became much more intrigued when Luke came here.
I think it speaks volumes that Luke had offers from both UVa and VT and chose us despite his dad being a UVa alum and a former DC.
Those UVA alum are notoriously slow learners. Glad he finally came around.
Heard he's a real first-in, last-out kinda guy. Cerebral football mind. Player's dad.
Tangential, but this reminds me in high school of my buddy's dad volunteering to assistant coach our lacrosse team. I'm in the locker room for Sat morning practice at 7 am and Coach Dad walks in, asks if his son is there. I'm like...uh, he lives with you? WTF? Coach Dad says if his son is late, his ass is grass. 5 min later, buddy comes hustling in, pissed, because his dad said he was leaving at 6:45 whether or not buddy was in the car. Guess who wasn't in the car.
Side note, shit was funny until I discovered that Coach Dad was willing to give me push ups as a punishment at practice OR if I was just at his house playing video games. We stopped playing video games there after that.
Great pick, Tenuta is a well respected coach.
This was the guy from Cincinnati everyone wanted right? I jest I promise glad to have any wiser eyes on the team to help improve the team also I'll bet he will have fun blitzing his sons side of the line in practice all day long
Very interested to see how this pans out