Two ACC teams are beginning bowl preparations without their offensive coordinators: Jim Chaney left Pittsburgh for the same job at Georgia, while Scottie Montgomery left Duke to become head coach at East Carolina. Duke coach David Cutcliffe announced on Twitter he is in no hurry to hire a new coordinator, saying the focus is on the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Indiana. At Pitt, quarterback Nate Peterman could be feeling the loss the most. He transferred to Pitt in large part because of Chaney, who initially recruited him to Tennessee.
Bronco Mendenhall is bringing six of his BYU assistants with him to Virginia. But he also made two key decisions to bolster his staff: hiring former East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill to coach linebackers, and keeping receivers coach Marques Hagans. Both should pay big dividends -- McNeill for his experience as a head coach, and Hagans for his ties to the program and recruiting expertise. Mendenhall has spent the majority of his career out West, so it is smart to have two assistants who can help with their ties to the East and South. Plus, it doesn't hurt that McNeill has two wins over rival Virginia Tech, which has beaten the Cavaliers 12 straight.
Bronco Mendenhall is bringing six of his BYU assistants with him to Virginia. But he also made two key decisions to bolster his staff: hiring former East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill to coach linebackers, and keeping receivers coach Marques Hagans. Both should pay big dividends -- McNeill for his experience as a head coach, and Hagans for his ties to the program and recruiting expertise. Mendenhall has spent the majority of his career out West, so it is smart to have two assistants who can help with their ties to the East and South. Plus, it doesn't hurt that McNeill has two wins over rival Virginia Tech, which has beaten the Cavaliers 12 straight.
