2009.02.20
Prince returns to UVa
From UVa sports information
Charlottesville, VA –- Virginia football coach Al Groh announced today the hiring of Ron Prince to coordinate the Cavaliers special teams. A 17-year coaching veteran on the collegiate level, Prince is one of three Virginia assistant coaches who have been a head coach at the collegiate or professional level.
“Ron Prince did an outstanding job for Virginia football for five years,” Groh said. “Ron cares about the kids, makes a strong connection with them and is interested in their success. While the head coach at Kansas State, his teams led the country in punt returns (2007), kick off returns (2006) and kicks blocked (2008), and Ron was very involved with the special teams.
"We look forward to a big upgrade in special teams production. Ron knows our values and team culture, as well as our blind spots. We are extremely pleased to have Ron back as part of our team.”
Prince rejoins the UVa staff after serving as the head coach at Kansas State for the last three seasons. His first stint at Virginia started in 2001 when he was named the team’s offensive line coach. In 2003 he took over as offensive coordinator for three seasons before moving on to head up the Wildcats’ program.
While at Virginia, he coached 11 players who earned All-ACC honors, including the league’s 2003 Player of the Year, Matt Schaub, and three-time all-conference picks Elton Brown and Heath Miller, who were also tabbed as first-team All-Americans. There were nine Virginia offensive players who he helped tutor that were selected in the NFL Draft.
“The University of Virginia and Al Groh have meant a lot to me and my family and we are thrilled to rejoin the Cavalier Family,” Prince said. “ My experiences the last three seasons in the Big 12 have added to my appreciation of the quality of the Virginia program, the unique set of skills that Coach Groh has, and the ambition and energy of the players. I am very excited for the challenge Coach has given me to significantly upgrade special teams performance.”
At Kansas State, Prince became the first coach in Wildcats’ history to lead his team to a bowl game in year one and also recorded the second-most wins, 12, by a coach in school history after the first two years on the job. He saw 19 of his players earn all-Big 12 honors over three years, directed Kansas State to its first-ever road win over a top-10 team (41-21 at Texas in 2007) and coached the team’s first-ever offensive consensus All-American (WR Jordy Nelson). He had players earn Academic Big 12 honors 21 times over three seasons.
Prince was born in Omaha, Neb. and grew up in Junction City, Kan. He played collegiality at Dodge City Community College (1988-90) and Appalachian State (1990-1991). He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Appalachian State in 1992.
His coaching resume began in 1992 when he worked as a volunteer assistant coach at Dodge City. He coached the offensive line and tight ends at Alabama A&M in 1993, worked as the offensive line coach at South Carolina State in 1994, coached the offensive line at James Madison from 1995 to 1997 and was the offensive line coach (1998-2000) and running game coordinator (1999-2000) at Cornell before joining the UVa staff in 2001. Prince has served NFL Minority Fellowships with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1996), Washington Redskins (1997), Atlanta Falcons (1999) and New York Giants (2000).
Prince and his wife, Zoé, have three sons and one daughter.
It would seem like Groh would want to hire someone who has recruiting connections. Maybe Groh is planning on recruiting the high schools in Kansas.
Comment by Nelson — February 20, 2009 @ 7:24 pm
At least Prince has recruited the state. Groh says Prince is an "excellent" recruiter. Don't know if I go THAT far.
Comment by Doug Doughty — February 20, 2009 @ 9:46 pm
Ron Prince is a good football coach. He proved that in his previous stint at UVA and I have all the confidence in this world he will do it again. The players liked him before and these new guys will like him too. UVA made a wise decision in rehiring him and mark my word, we are going to see immediate improvement.
Comment by Bud Ferrell — February 21, 2009 @ 10:05 am
Orrie is concerned the house may get " too crowded."
Comment by Orrie — February 21, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
this guy sounds really great. what is he doing back here? ask larry the cable guy.
k state plays a poor out of conference schedule which should have guaranteed 4 wins per year---you dont have to do much to be bowl eligible after that. the old boy (snyder) handed over a pretty good team to prince which explains his early success. everyone knows that k state football sucked for 50 years before snyder got there---and i guess thats why they are bring him back.
it looks like the big bad groh coaching tree that doughty used to pump up all the time has a wilted limb. it probably wont be long before the guy at temple is back either. temple has gone from playing 12 bcs opponents to playing 1, and has been feeding on the soft underbelly of the mac and yet narry a winning season yet.
Comment by ray — February 21, 2009 @ 2:08 pm