Virginia Tech has filled out their offensive staff with Adam Lechtenberg moving into the role of RBs coach. However, the Hokies still have a whole defensive staff to put around defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton.
With that said, here are some of the latest updates and insights on those defensive assistant searches.
Tech Shifts an Assistant Spot From Offense to Defense
After announcing Adam Lechtenberg's promotion to RBs coach, Justin Fuente told media that Tech would be shifting an assistant position to the defensive side of the ball, splitting up a current position group.
Fuente confirms Adam Lechtenberg will coach RBs going forward. Says it will open up another defensive position on staff. In addition to CB/S split, VT will split up a 2nd position group. #Hokies will not use an assistant spot to fill Lechtenberg's player development role.
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) December 11, 2019
That seems most likely to happen on the defensive line with many other schools already having a defensive ends coach and a defensive tackles coach.
It's a wise move for Justin Fuente to give Justin Hamilton an extra defensive spot that he can use in a multitude of ways including to bring in a quality defensive recruiter. This could also allow Hamilton to bring in a veteran coach without stopping him from giving an opportunity to a coach farther down Tech's staff (see below for more).
Tech Has Interviewed Robert Prunty for An Assistant Job
A source confirmed to us that Hampton head coach Robert Prunty has interviewed for an assistant position at Virginia Tech, but nothing more than that has happened just yet.
Prunty would be a very interesting addition as someone who is well liked in the 757 with one source telling me that multiple 757 high school coaches told him that Prunty "would be a great recruiter for our area, can trust him with your son or daughter for 4 years, nothing but good things."
That's pretty high praise for a coach who has coached defensive lineman at Texas Tech, Cincinnati, and East Carolina. Prunty is also a well-respected recruiter having been the Big 12 Recruiter of the Year on 2012 for Scout.com and earning Midlands Recruiter of the Year from Scout in 2011 and 2012.
Prunty also was a long-time head coach at Gretna HS and Hargrave Military Academy before jumping to Texas Tech and should have a good feel for the recruiting territory from then and his time at places like ECU and Hampton. He would also give Hamilton a veteran coach to work with who has experience not only as a head coach, but also as a defensive coordinator from his time at Cincinnati and ECU.
Prunty fits the bill of a veteran defensive coach that could be quite beneficial working alongside Hamilton while also being a major boost in critical in-state recruiting areas like the 757.
Jack Tyler Could Be a Name to Watch at LBs Coach
As Virginia Tech looks to fill out their position coaches on the defensive side, one name to watch is former Virginia Tech LB Jack Tyler.
Tyler has been on Tech's staff for a few years now and was a defensive quality control assistant this past season. Tech has been high on his future potential as a coach giving him the opportunity to go on the road recruiting early this year when Bud Foster was unable to travel to recruit after offseason surgery. Additionally, Tyler received plenty of praise from Foster during the 2018 season after Foster had to coach from the booth for the final few games of the season.
Promoting Tyler would give Tech some coaching and philosophical continuity at an important spot at linebacker. Also, Tyler did well when on the recruiting trail and could make a big difference in-state especially in his native Northern Virginia and all-around the Washington D.C. area.
Keep an eye on Jack Tyler as a name to watch for the Hokies' next LBs coach.
