New U.Va. defensive coordinator a good fit

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Holding court on the Scott Stadium pergola at Virginia's media day, defensive coordinator Bob Pruett was the picture of late-career contentment. 

At 65, Pruett was lured out of a three-year retirement by head coach Al Groh, a friend of more than 30 years. Pruett returned to a state where his roots date to 1965, to a job at a university where he once dreamed of coaching.

He inherited a defense that has been one of the ACC's best in recent years. On the recruiting trail, his old ties in Hampton Roads have already paid dividends, with three commitments from players from the 757 area code for next season.

"I feel blessed to be here," Pruett said. "I feel blessed to be working. I'm really excited. I'm having a lot of fun."

The feel-good story of a coach rejuvenated in the autumn of his career was interrupted last week by allegations from Pruett's time as head coach at Marshall University. Sworn affidavits in a civil lawsuit filed by the school's former compliance director, David Ridpath, tied Pruett to an academic scandal and jobs program that drew sanctions from the NCAA.

In a conference call with reporters last week - the only time since media day Pruett was available for an interview - he said he couldn't comment on the lawsuit.

"Hopefully, one day you'll get your day in court and see what happens," Pruett said.

Pruett gave a sworn deposition in May in which he "vigorously" denied the allegations that he helped rig grades and that he was involved in a summer jobs program in which incoming players were paid $25 an hour but were forced to sign statements indicating they made $12.50. The NCAA penalized Marshall for academic fraud and lack of institutional control in 2001, although Pruett was not named in the report.

One player who gave an affidavit has since recanted his statements. For his part, Groh called the allegations a "dated issue" that he was aware of before Pruett was hired.

"We're comfortable with the situation as we know it to be," Groh said. "It's an annoyance to him, but not a distraction."

It remains to be seen how much of a distraction, if any, the case will be to Virginia. It is scheduled for trial later in the year.

Pruett is best known for his success at Marshall, where he coached future NFL players Randy Moss, Chad Pennington, and Byron Leftwich, among others, and where Pruett won a Division I-AA national title in 1996. He retired in 2004, after nine years at his alma mater.

Pruett said he had several offers to return to coaching, but none fit as well as Virginia. Pruett met Groh in the 1970s, when Pruett was a high school coach in Northern Virginia, and Groh was recruiting the area for North Carolina. He joined Groh's staff at Wake Forest as defensive backs coach in 1983.

"It was just the right fit, knowing Al and knowing as much as I do about the state and the university," Pruett said.

Pruett certainly didn't need a road map to find his way to Hampton Roads. His Gar-Field High team played Hampton for the state title in 1977. He coached in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game three times and also ran the state wrestling tournament three times. Even at Marshall, he had success recruiting the area.

It was only natural, then, that Pruett would recruit Hampton Roads for Virginia. Since arriving in February, he has picked up commitments from three players: Oscar Smith defensive back Perry Jones; Maury receiver/defensive back LaRoy Reynolds and Phoebus safety LoVante' Battle.

"He's a real laid-back coach," Reynolds said. "It was a boost to me to know he'd recruited guys like Randy Moss and Byron Leftwich, as well as other guys from this area."

Pruett does indeed come across as laid-back, with his easy smile and southern West Virginia drawl. But he found retirement to be a little too slow. He has happily traded it for workdays that start at 6 a.m. and can end at midnight.

"I'm almost like a 30-year-old coach," he said. "I'm bouncing around here, light on my feet, trying to do some good."

Though his title is defensive coordinator, Pruett has spent much of his time working with the secondary. He has not overseen a 3-4 defensive scheme and is still familiarizing himself with it. He does not plan any major changes.

"They've played pretty good defense around here for a long time," he said.

Linebacker Clint Sintim said Pruett's style is a change from former coordinator Mike London, who became the University of Richmond's head coach. London is fiery type who would sometimes chest bump players as they ran off the field.

Pruett's track record gave him instant credibility, Sintim said.

"He's definitely one of those guys you really can't help but respect," Sintim said. "Everything he says, we really soak it up like a sponge."

As for Pruett's game-day demeanor, Sintim said he'll be curious to see how much bounce the veteran coach really has.

"The season hasn't started yet," he said. "We'll see if he does a back flip or a chest bump."

Ed Miller, (757) 446-2372, ed.miller@pilotonline.com