Groh's son among three aides out in Cavs' shakeup

By Doug Doughty

Virginia football coach Al Groh announced a series of staff changes Monday that included the departure of his son after three seasons as offensive coordinator.

Al Groh said Mike Groh and defensive line coach Levern Belin "will pursue career opportunities."

A third assistant, Steve Bernstein, is retiring after 38 seasons as a college coach.

In a prepared statement, Groh cited the " commitment, integrity and loyalty" of the three and added, "I appreciate them and their efforts."

Groh also said the moves should not be seen as assigning blame to the three for U.Va.'s mediocre 2008 season.

"There are no scapegoats here," he said. "The head coach is responsible for the team."

Groh also announced Anthony Poindexter, who has coached running backs for the past five years, will move to the defensive side and assume Bernstein's duties as secondary coach.

Poindexter was a three-time, first-team all-ACC defensive back during his U.Va. playing career and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.

Defensive coordinator Bob Pruett has been elevated to assistant head coach for defense, and Bob Diaco will get the coordinator's title.

Diaco has been the special-teams coach and linebackers coach for three seasons, although Al Groh has been closely involved with the linebackers and the defense as a whole.

There had been talk of staff changes before U.Va. ended the season Nov. 29 with a 17-14 loss at Virginia Tech, dropping the Cavaliers to 5-7, their second losing campaign in the past three years.

Less than 36 hours after the finale, athletic director Craig Littlepage announced U.Va. would not exercise the rollover clause in Groh's contract, leaving him with three seasons.

The direction of the offense has been the topic of considerable discussion among fans and media. U.Va. has not finished among the top 100 Division I-A teams in total offense since Mike Groh took over for Ron Prince after the 2005 season.

Prince left to become head coach at Kansas State, where he was notified with three games remaining in the regular season he would not be returning in 2009.

Prince has been mentioned for the U.Va. coordinator's job he once held. Former University of Richmond head coach Dave Clawson is another possibility.

U.Va. will need both a quarterbacks coach and a running backs coach, one of whom probably would serve as offensive coordinator.

In a news release, the U.Va. sports information office said Groh would proceed immediately on a "national search" to complete his staff.