RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia fired Al Groh on Sunday after nine seasons as football coach at his alma mater, ending a tenure marked by his inability to beat rival Virginia Tech.
Groh’s dismissal came less than 24 hours after the Cavaliers (3-9, 2-6 ACC) lost 42-13 at home to the No. 11 Hokies, finishing their worst season since they were 2-9 in 1982. It was their eighth loss to the Hokies in Groh’s nine tries.
“There is not a coach in the college game who has worked harder than Al Groh in trying to build a football program,” athletic director Craig Little-page said in a statement. “We are grateful for his service and for his commitment to his players and his coaching staff.”
Groh, 65, issued a statement through the school Sunday night in which he said he felt “very fortunate” to have been given the opportunity to coach at Virginia.
“I have coached Hall of Fame players, worked alongside Hall of Fame coaches, and coached in two Super Bowls, but my time as the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers has been my most memorable coaching experience,” Groh said.
CU names MVP.
Senior cornerback Cha’pelle Brown was selected by his University of Colorado teammates as the team’s most valuable player.
Junior wide receiver Scotty McKnight was named the Buffaloes’ most outstanding offensive player for the second consecutive year.
Senior inside linebacker Jeff Smart earned the outstanding defensive player award.
Assistant coach dies.
Eastern Illinois assistant coach Jeff Hoover was killed in a car crash as he returned home from a playoff game against Southern Illinois. He was 41.
Hoover and his family were riding with strength coach Eric Cash and his family late Saturday when their Chevrolet Suburban swerved to miss a deer and rolled over just south of Effingham, Ill., athletic department spokesman Rich Moser said Sunday.
Two children in the vehicle were released from a hospital, while a third child was being held for observation, Moser said. Cash, his wife Sherri and Hoover’s wife Penny were in stable condition at Carle Hospital in Champaign, Ill., Moser said.
Marshall coach quits.
Mark Snyder resigned as Marshall’s football coach. Snyder was 21-37 in five seasons.
The Associated Press
