Saturday, February 16, 2008

Virginia named former Marshall coach Bob Pruett its new defensive coordinator yesterday, pulling a big-name coach out of retirement to replace Mike London. Pruett coached at Marshall for nine seasons before leaving in 2005, leading the Thundering Herd to a 94-23 record.

"There is no one who is a truer, more proven football guy than Bob Pruett," Coach Al Groh said. "He has been highly successful as a high school coach, a college defensive coordinator and a college head coach. Simply, teams that Bob has coached win. He brings a great background in Virginia with relationships in multiple areas. Both coaches and players relate very positively to Bob."

When London, who is from Hampton, Va., departed to be Richmond's head coach in January, the Cavaliers lost their best in-state recruiter. They hope Pruett can replace his local ties. Pruett, 64, who is from Beckley, W.Va., coached high school football in Virginia for 14 years in the 1960s and '70s , including in Alexandria and Falls Church.

Groh's and Pruett's relationship began in the 1970s, when both broke into college coaching. Pruett slept on Groh's floor while Groh was an assistant at Virginia, and later his couch when Groh was an assistant at North Carolina. When Groh coached Wake Forest, he named Pruett his defensive backs coach. Pruett said he has received coaching offers each year since his retirement, but his friendship with Groh persuaded him to return to football.

"I have always considered him my closest friend in coaching," Pruett said in a statement. "We have always kept a close relationship and relied on each other for advice and tips and friendship. To get a chance to get back together with an old friend, and to coach at the University of Virginia, I think that is just awesome. "

-- Adam Kilgore