Stinespring, Hokies confident they can make ‘unusual situation’ work following coaching shakeup
Frank Beamer met with Bryan Stinespring shortly after the season and several subsequent times to talk about the direction of Virginia Tech’s offense. It could have been an awkward conversation, with Beamer planning to replace him as offensive coordinator after Stinespring held the post for 11 years.
It wasn’t, because of their relationship.
“It’s been a 20 year, 22 year relationship that’s built on and strengthened through good and tough times,” Stinespring said last week.
“It’s not something you stammer through. You’re able to sit down as two people that believe strongly in this university, believe strongly in this program and believe strongly in these young men and the future of it, and how do we best serve it. The key is, how do we best serve it.”
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The result was a change of stewardship in the offense. Beamer hired Scot Loeffler as the Hokies’ new offensive coordinator two weeks ago but recognized the value on the staff of Stinespring, whom he first hired from Patrick Henry High School in 1990 as a graduate assistant and had promoted up the ranks through the years.
The answer was to make remove Stinespring’s offensive coordinator title but make him recruiting coordinator, a move that came with a $60,000 pay cut but kept him on the staff. (He’ll make $300,000 going forward.)
Stinespring’s history as a recruiter, first in the 757, then in Southwest Virginia and again, recently, back in the 757 was apparent to Beamer. He made a point at the introductory press conferences for the new coaches to rattle off a list of Stinespring recruits over the years, including James Anderson, Kam Chancellor, DeAngelo Hall, Darryl Tapp, David Wilson, Logan Thomas, Andrew Miller, Demitri Knowles and Trey Edmunds.
“It’s an usual situation,” Beamer acknowledged. “And if he wasn’t the kind of guy he is, I don’t think it would work. But there’s not an ego involved. There’s a love for Virginia Tech and the kids in this program. And I told him, I think certain parts of it are going to be tough, but I think all of us, we knew each other, and I just think that the people involved here and Bryan are going to make this thing work. I feel very fortunate that he’s staying on at Virginia Tech. I think he means a lot to us.”
Stinespring will continue to coach tight ends, working within the framework of Loeffler’s offense. That too, given his history, could be an awkward situation, although Loeffler didn’t have any apprehension about it upon taking the job.
In fact, when Loeffler was at Temple, he had the same situation. Steve Addazio hired Loeffler as the offensive coordinator, a position Matt Rhule had held the previous year. Rhule stayed on staff as an assistant offensive coordinator, in addition to coaching tight ends. (After a year with the New York Giants, Rhule has since been hired to replace Addazio as Temple’s head coach. Loeffler calls him one of his “best friends in the business.”)
“I know that we have a room that there’s zero ego,” Loeffler said. “It’s not Scot Loeffler’s offense. It’s Virginia Tech’s offense. We’re all going to work together. I was extremely ecstatic with Bryan’s knowledge. He’s a smart football coach. He understands Virginia Tech and I’m really, really happy walking into this situation where he’s in that room.
“There was never a discussion whatsoever. They said, ‘Bryan is going to be coaching here.’ And I was, ‘Great.’ Any time a guy has been at a place [as coordinator] for 11 years, they get it, they understand how to win. And his knowledge is awesome. I know it’s going to really work.”
Stinespring’s main objective, though, is to formulate a recruiting plan for the Hokies. His title — recruiting coordinator — is different from Jim Cavanaugh, the team’s director of recruiting and high school relations. As an on-field coach, Stinespring is allowed by the NCAA to do things that Cavanaugh can’t — recruit off campus, for instance.
Stinespring will organize the team’s recruiting plan, which, from the sounds of it, will be more of a group effort, with coaches assigned to general areas but position coaches getting more directly involved with players who they’ll work with at the next level.
New offensive line coach Jeff Grimes, for instance, will recruit Western Pennsylvania, but he will be directly involved with any offensive line recruit the Hokies target. Loeffler, similarly, will recruit quarterbacks, regardless of where they reside.
“I think it’s a little about the direction, how you want to do things, how we can always get better,” Stinespring said. “Not just offensively, not just defensively, special teams. But we can do something from the recruiting standpoint that can enhance our ability to attract top student athletes. … We’ll do a couple things here and there somewhat differently. But the base core of how we recruit and who we’re going to recruit is still going to be the same.”
Stinespring had opportunities to go elsewhere but decided to stick it out with the only college program he’s ever known.
“It’s always been the right situation for me and my family,” he said. “Virginia Tech’s part of who I am. It’s inside of me. It’s something I care a great deal about. … The central figure is Virginia tech and these kids that you love and have loved for over 20 years, and this university and this program, than it’s not so difficult.
“[Beamer] and I talked a couple different times. He knows how I feel about this place and this university. There’s a dream we’re chasing. And I’ve been fortunate and blessed to have a front row seat to a great football story. I’m excited about the next chapter of it.”
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Previously:
- Beamer embraces change for the good of the Hokies
- While running the ball is a priority, new OC Scot Loeffler’s biggest job in 2013 is with Logan Thomas
- New o-line coach Jeff Grimes’ goal at Virginia Tech? Develop the ‘toughest line in the ACC’
- Enthusiastic Moorehead part of youth movement on Hokies’ coaching staff
February 1, 2013 - 10:24 AM
I’m glad they kept Stiney. He was a good line coach, just not a good OC. These people are professionals and will adapt to their situations.
Seriously, and there’s really no need to beat a dead horse, but the offense for Virginia Tech alone has left a lot of wins on the field. I still say, the 2009 Hokies had national champion written all over it but could not pull it together offensively.
Hopefully, the Dean Smith offense is dead too. That was perhaps the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
No egos in college coaching? Where am I? “Gee, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!” How great can it be to get demoted, then stay at the school & work under your replacement? Plus S’spring is now going to recruit…Welcome to the land of OZ!
Im glad Stiney is staying with Tech. Even after everything that was thrown at him on the message boards and in print, he has continued to handle the situation with class.
Fred, Stiney has always been one of the Hokie’s top recruiters, especially in the 757. Thank him for Tyrod Taylor.
Andy, Thanks for your insight into what is going on in Virginia Tech Football. Just reading your articles lets me know that Coach Beamer and his staff really know what they are doing as far as keeping up with the times. It is evident that keeping Stiney on staff is not just a loyalty thing; Coach Beamer seems to me to be continuosly thinking about how to make Virginia Tech Football better. They have not only shaken up the offensive staff, they are taking advantage recruiting wise withe their new set up. Keep up the good work; those who read with intelligence can only be positive for next year!
Stinespring is a great coach and a better person. He genuinely cares a great deal about the guys wearing maroon and orange. VT wins by him staying. I’m sure of that!
I would stay also for $300,000!
I screamed loudly that it was time for change at VT. But I’ll say this, I’m impressed by the handling of this situation by Stinespring. There were a lot of folks who said a lot of nasty things. His passion for VT shows. I’ll root for him to be successful in this new role. I think it’s the best of both worlds for Beamer & Co.
Andy, this is a little off topic but what kind of contact can Loeffler have with Logan and some of the others on offense before spring practice? Can he share a playbook for Logan to start to review?
For $500,000/yr I could swallow my ego.
757 – dude! When you say you don;t want to beat a dead horse why do you beat it? You enjoy beating dead horses?
Maybe you’ll like:
No horse is too dead to beat.
No horse is dead so long that it cannot be exhumed for further beating.
When progress is stopped, tie dead horses together to increase speed.
While I don’t think Stinespring is a very good OC, I do think that Beamer is right in that Stinespring is levelheaded and humble enough to get demoted and still contribute without him trying to still have control over the offense.
I would thank Michael Vick and whoever recruited him just as much as Stinespring, because I think that was a big influence on Tyrod’s decision to come to VT. They’re both from the 757 and Tyrod often likened his attributes to those of Vick’s.
Voice of Reason, they can’t do any on-field work. And meetings for film review are very limited, from what I understand of the NCAA rules. I think it’s two hours per week or something like that.
Everything gonna be ok. Looking forward to start of season, Bama probably wins game 1 but Bama will know they were in a game.
I’m glad of Frank Beamer’s “respect’ for Brian Stinespring’s love of VT.
It’s too bad that some of the leaders on the administrative side of the university didn’t show the same “respect” for a former employee with nearly 28 years of dedicated service in the Div. of Student Affairs, who also had a great love and passion for VT.
But, what goes around – comes around…and to some, it already has!!
Cody Journell just can’t stay out of the news….
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/21262/cody-journell-involved-in-pepper-spray-incident
I think it would have been better for Stinespring and VT for him to go. I understand Beamer is being loyal to a coach who probably had very few positive options, but Beamer and his coaches have never shied away from demoting a player who wasn’t performing(which is the equivalent of firing him at the player level since they can’t cut him for performance). That is of course how it should be, but I think you need to hold the coaches to the same standard you hold the players. You’re not getting the job done, you’re out of a job.
Still, if Loeffler doesn’t truly mind, let it be, but does he truly not mind? How much say does Loeffler have in his assistants? More uncomfortable than Stinespring perhaps is the retention of Shane Beamer. I’m not saying Shane hasn’t earned the opportunity or even that he is a bad coach (although his running backs were terrible this year), but it’s got to create an uncomfortable environment if Loeffler is not happy with his performance.
Anyway, a new staff is something to be excited about in a year that has held little but disappointment for Hokie Football. I have to hope this will infuse some excitment in recruiting too. (Could be worse, look up the 81 a couple of hours and you’ll see a program that recycles coaches like I change my socks. That can’t be good for recruiting or team development.)
Had heard about that last week with Journell (during the introductory presser for the new coaches, actually). His name came across the police scanner. Someone in our office heard it.
They ended up not pressing charges and seemed satisfied that it was an accidental discharge (or unintentional), so we didn’t pursue it as a story.
540Hokie you are wrong about Tyrod. Curt Newsome is to be given full credit for recruiting Tyrod. Newsome also has Deon Newsome from Hampton coming in this year and had Marshawn Williams (RB) committed for next year but that probably won’t happen now.
Brian glad you were able to stay at Tech, you have been very good for the schooland football team.
An Old friend
Jim Rosenbaum
Right wing, could not agree more well said. In sports or business or whatever, you should always put people in the best position to succeed and that is what FB has done with Stiney, playing to his strengths which did not include being an OC but are still considerable IMO.
Good for all, and go Hokies!
540Hokie: You make me puke !! You are full to your brown eyes. Have you considered a brain transplant?? I think one of the 3 stooges’ is available!! Good grief ! !
All about relationships and recruiting.Stiny may already be looking for a new job.Keeping him the right move short term.
I agree with the prevailing sentiment. While I absolutely hated Stiney as OC, I like him, the players like him, and I also think he did a decent job coaching the line. Jim Weaver, however, is a different story. While he has presided over a big upswing in VT football, he has botched up the men’s and women’s basketball teams to a high degree. And, I still haven’t quite gotten over how he tried to push FB out the door to NC. His time has come and gone in my opinion.
Why are personal attacks like the one peppers ferry laid on 540Hokie allowed on this forum?