On Friday, January 18, Frank Beamer announced the following changes to his coaching staff:
- Out: WR coach Kevin Sherman, OL coach Curt Newsome, QB coach Mike O’Cain
- Reassigned: Bryan Stinespring to TE coach/recruiting coordinator (no longer OC)
- In: OC/QB coach Scot Loeffler, OL coach Jeff Grimes, WR coach Aaron Moorehead
We want to know what you think of the changes.
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I will never get over watching Will’s amateur (but good!) clip assembly of MD’s lackadaisical blocking effort, and wondering about the coach’s continuing statements game after game the “the effort was great”. How could Coach Sherman let that lack of effort continue? Jeeze Louise! They have vastly better video equipment than Will does! You know they knew all about it, and yet it continued! Why did they need Will’s video exposure to finally take some modest disciplinary/corrective action in this matter? Did Frank and Shane and Stiney not realize this until Will’s video went viral?
Tell me if you think this would have continued under Miles or Saban. Or C. Kelly.
If you haven’t paid attention to Alabama’s blocking, you are in for a horror show when we play them. Everyone blocks!
I think that is what CC meant by Pride.
In my mind, almost ANY change had to be an improvement. I voted Yes.
SIR: what is Coach Cav’s new (if changed) job in the revised coaching/staff/recruiting structure?
I sure would hate too see him leaving VT; and i really enjoy talking with him when i see him in Merriman and at Hokie Club events – particularly his post signing day tour with insights and video highlights of recruits.
He is a classic coach -knows football inside-and-out, loyal, goal-driven, hard-nosed when necessary, cares about his players now and NFL futures, forthright and honest (to the limit of our program’s restraints) and very approachable.
If Cav stays — rumors are circulating that he’s going to depart — I don’t think his job will change.
I think you will get a feel one way or the other after spring pratice. Since they didn’t have a spring game last year, we didn’t get to see what the team would look like. I can say for sure that someone on the coaching staff knew that 2012 was not going to be a good year for the offense. We knew that Bud had a few guys in the defensive back field that were raw, and would need time. I guess we all felt that the offense would be ok. Someone on the offensive coaching staff must have felt they were going to have problems. Frank has been around coaching long enough to know this to, maybe he realized that it was a coaching problem, that’s why he made the changes he did. Lets HOPE it works out for the good.
I voted “no”. Beamer failed management 101 when he kept his buddy on staff, along with his son, and even if theyre on board and committed to the change the perction is they can undermine Scott with Frank. If I were Scott I would have turned down the job.
If I were frank, I’d have turfed Stiney and moved shane off the offensive staff, started fresh with a coordinator that was actually in charge.
One thing has been apparent for the past 5 years. We have lacked toughness and the ability to be physical on the offensive line. It all starts up front!! I think Coach Grimes brings with him the ability to coach up and develop this offensive line. He will help them develop the nastiness and physical presence we have come to expect of past Tech offensive lines. All of the hires were very good hires but I believe he makes the most impact early.
There are no sure things when you make coaching changes (or management changes of any kind), but these look to be very good hires. We went out and got two experienced coaches with excellent resumes and one relatively young coach considered to be on the rise. If we had outbid Auburn for Loeffler’s services and pulled in Grimes a year ago, we would have been celebrating our coup. These guys still look like winners to me, but now they’ve got to prove it on the field.
BTW, it’s going to take a heck of a run for the new staff just to equal VT’s record the first 6 years that O’Cain, Newsome and Sherman were on staff. That run included six 10 win seasons, 4 BCS bowls and 3 ACC championships. For all the frustrations, that’s still a nice little run. Hope we can build on it and go on to even bigger things.
We needed new coaches that were Exclamation Marks! IMO we got Question Marks? Give ‘em 2 seasons and take the poll again. Obviously I am in the “I don’t know, I’m not sure, or … we’ll see” camp. Did we hire coaches capable of being teachers. Can they teach technique, can they instill mental toughness, can they motivate, can they they break down video and show players where and why they did and did not execute. The Hokie Nation is tired of being just a few plays away from going to another MNC.
Easier said than done regarding getting coaches that are exclamation marks and not question marks. Your top tier coaches are looking toward the NFL or maybe a top tier BCS program.
Not to mention going to VT you can forget every moving up to head coach..
I want O Linemen like Thornton Melon, Tall and Fat.
Some very Conservative hires from a Conservative Leadership, certainly no Wow hires. Any change is good. I hope that the aging Beamer will let these guys do what they want! Am pretty dissappointed to be Honest, but will take what We got-at this point Va. Tech is not a good sell. I hope that they can Recruit.
Solid, but overdue hires. Not visionary. Will keep us competitive but not elite. Would have preferred to go totally modernized with Texas A&M or Oregon type O. That would give a recruting advantage over the Carolina schools, UVa, PSU etc. Imagine an O as innovative as Bud’s D. That would be something to reckon with. This will keep us competitive if recruiting improves and the O becomes cohesive but doubt we will have another run of ACC championships, maybe one every 4 or 5 years which is still better than most.
The issue for the past several years has been the attempt to innovate and take on the flavor of the day. Read option, pistol, option, I form- for the love of all just pick an identity and perfect it. Please no more trendy Oregon-esque offenses. Play power football and hire offensive coaches who know how to recruit and coach the lineman (Grimes), run a power running game (Leoffler has that IMO). Its working for the Harbaughs.
Sorry, but I agree with Kickin Back Hokie………
If can go the ORIGINAL Oregon style that brought them from nowhere to national scene….
then go back to Don Strock wide open passing game…….
After having seasons starting with Lane opening…..Have seen it all.
Under Claiborne (Beamers coach)–it was all about defense. People used to joke that you better rush to the bathroom & concessions while the offense was on the field in order to be back for a VT defensive turnover or special teams play. VT rarely scored in 30′s unless beating up on W&M, VMI, Directional schools, etc. He got terminated due to low scoring and losses. Then came Coffey who turned Don Strock loose. After his departure in came
Jimmy Sharpe running the veer offense (passes rare) but had great runners. Unfortunately, Dad-gummit—things didnt work out.
Then Beamer came along. If it hadn’t been for Michael Vicks scrambling (who was smart enough to know that offensive scheme was unimaginative, predictable, and had the excitement of a mudslide) there would have been big changes LLLLLONG ago. Beamer was in trouble after 1st 5 or so years due to offense…….THE DEFENSE & SPECIAL TEAMS CREATED GREAT FIELD POSITION AND BIG PLAYS SAVED THE DAY up to that point. and bought him more time……THEN DIVINE INTERVENTION DELIVERED MICHAEL. and that renewed the program. Marcus & continued top defensive talent gave Hokie fans the feeling we might have MV 2 era.. Most of us are familiar with the rest- solid steady seasons and bowl games (there are 30 some bowls === 60 teams) and Beamers efforts responsible for ACC membership.
Great accomplishments but almost every admits we can’t win top opponent games- bowl record mediocre…….defense continuing to hold the pants up for the team (until this year) and continued mediocrity on THE NATIONAL CONTENDERS list.. The program has stalled and become stale. AS MANY OTHERS CITED……these changes long overdue.
While descriptions indicate those coming in are of the conservative vain……at least its change. and hopefully they will look at playbook & film of past and bring a fresh perspective and create an element of surprise that will keep future opponents guessing.
Hopefully, they will blend the old with their new ideas so we don’t have to struggle with
another .500 year and continue to see a decline in recruiting talent. IF WE SOMEHOW HAVE A MAJOR TURNAROUND….with new coaches….. it could lead to a major resurgence of the program and a return of the game day crew & national televised games (other than Thurs nights —i.e –no competition for college viewers). Frankly, I belive Hoos will have
as many Thurs nite games as we will this coming year.
So you’re saying, no matter how hard Alabama works at this type of offense, it will never make them a consistently good team and they will not be able to recruit the elite players??
I like the changes,maybe the pro style offense will attract better athletes to the program.Really like the Grimes hire as OL has been our biggest weakness for many years.GO HOKIES!
Like the fact that we made changes. Will have to wait and see if these guys actually make any difference. At first look hires are not flashy and cause no immediate excitement.
Sure, I like them, but I marked “we’ll see.” If the Rutgers game symbolized anything to me, it is that we had to wait until the engine completely seized up before deciding to change the oil … not what I would call leadership.
But on the surface, it looks like a move in the right direction. Without trying to be sarcastic, anything is better than 4 inches a running play. This group is considerably younger which should be a good thing (young means getting coaches in their early 40′s in that sweet spot of experience while still being able to relate to players) It may be unfair, but coaching is a young man’s profession. I like the idea that OL recruits seem to show up on Grime’s doorstep so fingers crossed on that, probably the only element here that I can get truely excited about. (fingers crossed)
Anyway, it was an evolutionary change, not a revolutionary one and presumably be the last look of the CFB era. Getting a top 30-40 offense to go with Bud’s D’s would be a wild success. Right now, that’s all I want and expect.
How can I not like them? I’ve been complaining for years about the O. But if it’s going to be just the same ole Frank Beamer philosophy then nothing will have been gained. There has to be the brand of football being played that will make more top recruits come, and not scurry off to U of F or some NC school. I voted yes, but as always, time will tell.
I’m curious about the 18 who said “I don’t like them”.
Did any of you want no change (I promise not to comment if that’s your answer, but I can’t promise for others)
Did you want different changes (ie, Newsome gone, but we should have kept Sherman or something like that).
Did you want change but do NOT like the new guys?
Di you want even more change (ie, Stiney needed to go completely?)
Other?
I said “NO”. It was a rather weak NO but NO never-the-less because it didn’t go far enough. As much as I like Stiney as a Hokie person, I think keeping him on at an elevated salary for a TE coach is a bad message and possible poison pill for the new leaders to work with. If things don’t go well, then why didn’t things improve? Well…..Stiney is still around and you know that he and CFB are very close so how could we really get our agenda moving with him still in-the-house to cast a shadow of doubt among players. He wouldn’t do it intentionally but I hope he moves on before the start of Spring practice. I’d rather the new guys have the floor to do what they want without having to wonder how Stiney is feeling about the “new methods”. There will be “new methods”, right?
I’ve had this same thought, but I’m tryng to be optimistic. Like you, I think enough of Stinespring to believe that he will not try to do ANYTHING to undermine the new coaches. I don’t think he’ll be whispering in Frank’s ear that he thinks such and such is the wrong approach, I don’t think he’ll be telling any players “well, you know, I’m still really in charge” or anything like that.
But I do wonder if his full effort will still be there. Subconciously, I mean. As in, during the season, coaches will regularly put in 18 (or more) hour days. Maybe there will be a psych effect to the demotion, and Stiney maybe puts in 16.5 hours, then says to himself “Geez, I’m beat. I’m going to go home”, not even thinking that (comparatively) that’s shirking.
Otherwise, I’m optimistic that he’ll actually be the good soldier for the program.
Stiney should be enough of a company man to understand that he needs to focus on what his new role is and not disrupt the new OC. Beamer gave him his chance, something he frankly would not have gotten anywhere else at that time. He just is not an OC, but he is a good coach and an excellent recruiter. He loves VT and deserves to have the chance to find a place in the new role. That being said I do expect Beamer to take swift action should any conflict arise, and SBeams should be there in all the meetings to keep tabs on if its is becoming an issue.
Andy Bitter just reported that Stiney may be getting interest with the Colts for OL coach, which I would find a surprising move. Both from Stiney, who owes his entire career to Beamer and from Pep who was Beamer’s primary target for Stiney’s replacement. Stiney certainly can leave but to cherry-pick staff from the team which you were looking to take over, and the very man you were going to replace, seems fairly cold-hearted move by Pep to me. Unless its with Beamer’s blessing.
It was time; the energy was low, and the program was in a rut (although possibly at a cyclical low). Don’t be surprised if it takes a little while….”there are no solutions, only approaches” (with sports, people, business, unless your talking about math and chemistry). So the new approach will take some time and adjustment for both the players and coaches. Hopefully the energy level will increase; along with “in game adjustments” on offense.
I don’t like to see anyone lose their job neither but the OC position is about 11 years too late in making a change. Football is a big business and if you don’t perform then you should be replaced. I never was a fan of Stiney as the OC but as a recruiter, he is one of the best. He has brought a lot of bit time players to the team that has paid huge dividends for us. I think injecting new blood into our system will do wonders for our team. Now that new coaches have been named, let’s give them a chance to see what they do before we start wanting to axe them. Remember, we have a long road to smooth over from what happened this year and like they say, “Rome was not built in a day”. Give it a few years before everyone starts to want to get rid of Loeffer and Grimes.
New, young blood, fresh ideas…like it. No more of this incestuous, inbreeding Beamer crap. I think we will be pleasantly surprised starting with spring practice.
Go ahead and cuss me…..the one that got thrown out with the trash was Mike O’Cain. I think he had his hands cuffed the whole time he was at VT. Just my opinion…..don’t be hatin!
No hatin’ here. My husband said the exact same thing. Good luck to Coach O’Cain and, indeed, all our former coaches.
Don’t hate any of the old coaches? We just need a change. The offense has always been our weak spot. I wish the best for all the coaches and appreciate what they have done for VT football.
Only time will tell but I think they are Home runs! Especially Loeffler and Grimes! I think it will segway to either Loeffler taking over for Beamer or for Shane to move up and be the HC.
Only time will tell. We can’t expect an immediate turnaround for next year. So let’s see where we are 2-3 years down the road. I think most of us wanted a change and we got that so I’m excited about the potential. Key word potential.
We will see. If the offense develops a toughness, then this is a good hire. Our offense has played without passion for some time. Let’s see the same attitude from the offense that Bud inspires in the defense.
By the way, we may not be able to beat Bama, but we can do better than ND. ND missed a boat load of tackles.
If Grimes cracks and splits some clipboards he is for me. Get somebody with some fire and will is the key.
Our current look like they are sleep-walking as it is painful watching stinespring in the pressbook as it looks like he does not care to me
The look on Grimes’ face makes me think he’s going to be the key to the change – attitude. Loeffler seems to have a good resume. Don’t know much about Moorefield, but if Frank and Scott are convinced, so am I.
I believe Grimes will be somewhat like Bud Foster, a kick butt and take names sort of guy – get tough, do the job or sit on the bench.
Grimes like Foster?
Why? Because they have the same beard of course!
Don’t know – Loeffler was not the OC when Auburn won the title, his pro-style offense didn’t work for Auburn last year. Is a pro-style offense what CFB was looking for?
Not sure if the pro-style or the Auburn offense from the title year would be the betfer fit here. Lots of changes at UVa and other schools have not worked so well and ‘taint sure if it will work here – but as many voted – time will tell.
Auburn had a pretty awful offense the year before Loeffler took over. Ranked 100 or lower in the country.
That was with a spread offense…and spread personnel.
I think the one-year Auburn experiment isn’t an accurate reflection of Loeffler’s skills.
Sure hope you are right.
Pep Hamilton may not have been a better choice but he is in the NFL now. Not sure CFB had too many good choices left on the table. Bad year for coaching hires – it all comes down to timing and this was a year with a high number of coaching changes, both in the NCAA and NFL.
Kinda like our basketball transition – bad timing. But that may work out yet, and as they say, time will tell.
Will, you forgot to list “I like them until we have a poor offensive showing against Alabama at which point in time I will change my opinion violently and demand Jim Weaver and Frank Beamer’s resignation.”
LOL! At Justin Berkley’s comment, “I like them until we have a poor showing against Alabama, at which time…”
ANY CHANGE IS BETTER THAN NO CHANGE!!!!!!
I particularly like Grimes. Can’t quite put my finger on it but he passes the eye test for me. Just a feeling more than anything, but after seeing some videos of him being interviewed, other coaches’ comments, I think he’ll be good medicine for VT’s o-line.
Same here. And our OL is our number 1 priority.
I can’t put my finger on it either, but the look in his eyes reminds me of Bud Foster. Know that is very high praise, if he is any where near Fosters’ intensity level, we will be doing well.