Rocco Confirmation

[Sly Fox]

Its hardly a secret anymore. But here is more confirmation from the Richmond fishwrap:

Rocco leaves U.Va; are others on the way out?
Linebackers coach will take over at Liberty; Prince and Golden top lists elsewhere

BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Dec 2, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE - One of football coach Al Groh's assistants at the University of Virginia is gone. The status of three others remained unclear last night.

Danny Rocco will be introduced as Liberty University's football coach this morning in Lynchburg. Liberty hopes to move from Division I-AA to I-A in a decade, and Rocco has been charged with reviving a program in decline. The Flames finished 1-10 this season.

Rocco, 45, who coached the Cavaliers' outside linebackers, also held the title of associate head coach. Virginia's offensive coordinator, Ron Prince, is a candidate for a coaching job, too, as is defensive coordinator Al Golden.

Prince, 36, is a finalist at Kansas State, and he spent most of yesterday in Kansas. Golden, 36, has emerged as a leading candidate at Temple.

This is Groh's fifth season as coach at his alma mater, and Rocco, Prince and Golden have been with him since the beginning.

"When we all joined the staff here at Virginia," Rocco said, "Al said he wanted guys who wanted to be head coaches. And sure enough, when that opportunity came, he was right there for me."

Losing three veteran assistants probably would hurt U.Va. in the short term, Rocco acknowledged. "I think the only positive is they're all head-coaching opportunities," he said, "which in the long run will speak volumes about what Al Groh has done with this football program."

If Golden gets the job at Temple, another U.Va. assistant, Mark D'Onofrio, almost certainly will join him there. D'Onofrio, who played at Penn State with Golden, coaches Virginia's inside linebackers and coordinates its special teams.

Temple Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw, in a phone interview yesterday, said the school hoped to hire its next coach in the next 10 days. Bradshaw said his policy throughout the search for Bobby Wallace's successor has been to neither deny nor confirm the interest of any potential candidates. Head-coaching experience, however, won't be a requirement.

"We really remain open in many ways on the shape and the size and the age and the experience," Bradshaw said. "But we're very clear in needing someone who has the résumé and irrepressible energy and confidence to turn Temple football around."

Rocco's brothers, Frank Jr. and David, live in the Lynchburg area, as does their father, Frank Sr. Frank Jr. and Frank Sr., in fact, have worked in LU's football program. But family ties weren't why he accepted Liberty's offer, Danny Rocco said.

"I took the job because I believe Liberty University can compete and win the championship," Rocco said, "because it's a solid league, but it's not a league that has a perennial champion."

Rocco was a captain at Wake Forest when Groh was its head coach. Rocco has coached under Groh at Wake, with the New York Jets and at U.Va.

"I've never taken a job anywhere without consulting with him, and I did the same thing this time," Rocco said. "He felt good about. He really felt there is a commitment [at Liberty]."

Late this month, U.Va. (6-5) will play in a bowl game, probably the Emerald in San Francisco. Rocco will spend the next couple weeks recruiting for Liberty and putting his new program together. He said he'll then rejoin the Cavaliers for their pre-bowl practices and coach in their postseason game.

www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768477591&path=!sports!colleges&s=1045855934926

[tallyw]

Here we go... it's going to be a exciting ride.

[givemethemic]

From my good buddy at the Daily Progess:Email This Story

Rocco headed Liberty's way


By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
December 2, 2005.

One of Danny Rocco's dreams was to become the head coach at the college level.
That dream will become reality this morning.

At 9 a.m. today in Lynchburg, on the campus of Liberty University, Rev. Jerry Falwell, the school's chancellor, will introduce Rocco as the new head football coach.

Rocco has coached Virginia's outside linebackers since 2001 and has been the program's associate head coach since 2002.

The departure of Rocco might not be the last for Groh's program, which finished the regular season at 6-5.

UVa offensive coordinator Ron Prince interviewed on Thursday in Manhattan, Kan., for the vacant head coaching position at Kansas State and defensive coordinator Al Golden has interviewed twice at Temple University to replace former coach Bobby Wallace, who went 19-71.

At Liberty, Rocco replaces Ken Karcher, who went 21-45 in six years. Falwell fired Karcher on Nov. 18.

The decision to take the job at Liberty did not come with ease for Rocco, who had been an assistant coach at UVa under Al Groh for the past five years.

Rocco, 45, said it ultimately came down to Liberty's "commitment" to producing a winning football program.

"I think any time you look at all of us assistant coaches who have aspirations to be a head coach, the formula may vary for different guys," Rocco said. "But, for me the major criteria was 'Do you have an opportunity to compete and to win in your conference.'

"[Liberty] is a I-AA program who is in the process of making a commitment to try to go to Division I and Dr. Falwell has a vision, basically a 10-year plan."

Terms of Rocco's agreement with Liberty are unknown, but he said he hopes to coach in Virginia's upcoming bowl game.

"When I went in to talk to Coach Groh for guidance Wednesday afternoon ? I offered my services for the bowl game," Rocco said. "[Coach Groh said it was a] good thing, so I will most likely come back and work the bowl game."

Virginia's bowl fate will likely remain unknown until Sunday, but regardless of the locale, the timing is perfect for Rocco.

The NCAA has a "dead period" in recruiting from Dec. 19 to Jan. 1.

"It wouldn't really matter where I am at," Rocco said. "I can do my work on the phone and my staff at Liberty can do their work. I don't necessarily physically have to be there. I think that's what we will end up doing."

Liberty, coming of a 1-10 season, competes in Big South Conference, which has just five members in football - Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb and VMI.

"As we move forward, the first thing I think you have to look at is the ability to compete and win in your conference," Rocco said. "That's the thing that really intrigues me.

"The Big South Conference, I like the league. It is a good, solid league, but there really isn't a perennial champion in this league. I think we are going to be able to compete and I think we are going to be able to compete early and have the opportunity to compete for that championship - and that's what you want to be able to do."

Rocco said he would spend the next 10 days at Liberty, meeting with the team and forming a staff, which sources have said will likely include UVa graduate assistant Chad Wilt.

Prince, 36, was flown to Manhattan, Kan., on Thursday for a second interview with officials at Kansas State according to multiple sources.

Rocco told the Kansas City Star on Thursday that Prince was being courted by Kansas State and said it is just a matter of time before Virginia's offensive coordinator gets a head coaching job.

"I'll say this about him - whether it's Kansas State this year or Northwestern next year or Texas Tech the year after that, it's just a matter of time for him to get his chance," Rocco said. "He'll have his day, and he'll do well."

Published reports have mentioned former Kansas State assistant Phil Bennett as another candidate to replace former coach Bill Snyder, who announced his retirement Nov. 15 after 17 years with the school.

The candidate pool for KSU did get smaller in the past two days as South Florida coach Jim Leavitt, a former KSU assistant, signed a contract extension, and Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Vanables said publicly that he would not pursue the KSU job.

Prince spent his childhood in Junction City, Kan., which is 30 minutes from Manhattan, and played part of his college football career at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College.

If hired as a head coach, Prince would become the fourth African-American coach currently at the NCAA I-A level.

Golden, 36, is one of the leading candidates for the opening at Temple and has been interviewed by the school twice in the past month.

Temple officials would not comment on the search on Thursday, but the school plans to announce a new coach in the next 10 days.

Temple Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw told the Philadelphia Daily News on Thursday that the candidate pool, which includes Wisconsin assistant Brian White and Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach Hue Jackson, has left the school with several qualified options.

"Since it appears likely that any of these [candidates] would be successful as our next head football coach, we are left with the challenge of selecting the right fit for Temple University," Bradshaw said. "We have established mutual interest with an impressive group of candidates."

Temple, a winless team this year, will join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a full-time member in 2007

[PAmedic]

Liberty University Announces New Head Football Coach; Univ. of Virginia’s Danny Rocco to Lead Flames into 2006 Season

December 2, 2005 · Lynchburg, Va.

With a coaching career that includes the New York Jets and 19 years of collegiate successes highlighted by multiple bowl appearances, Danny Rocco joins Liberty University’s athletic staff as head football coach.

Liberty University chancellor and president Rev. Jerry Falwell, made the hiring announcement today at a press conference at the University saying “Danny Rocco is a perfect fit for Liberty University in every way. Liberty is fortunate to have him. Coach Rocco is one of more than 20 NCAA Division I football coaches who expressed an interest in this position, which is a tremendous endorsement of the potential for Liberty’s football program. I firmly believe Coach Rocco can lead Liberty in reaching its goal of becoming a dominant Division IAA program and then moving up to Division IA, all within the next decade.”

Rocco just completed his fifth year as the University of Virginia’s associate head coach and linebackers coach. He coordinated UVa’s recruiting efforts in 2002 as Virginia landed one of the best recruiting classes in school history, ranked in the top 10 nationally by most recruiting services.

Rocco arrived at UVa after spending one season as a member of Al Groh’s coaching staff with the New York Jets in 2000. His 19 year collegiate coaching career includes positions at the Univ. of Maryland and the Univ. of Texas where he helped lead the Longhorns to three consecutive conference championships as well as the Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Sun Bowl.

Rocco served as the defensive line coach at Boston College after spending three seasons at Tulsa that included an appearance in the Independence Bowl. In the 1980s, Rocco served on coaching staffs at the University of Colorado and Wake Forest.

His own college playing career began as a two-year letter winner at Penn State followed by two starting seasons at Wake Forest, from where he graduated in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication.

From a football family, Rocco’s father, Frank, was a coach and administrator on Joe Paterno’s staff at Penn State for 15 years. Rocco attended high school in Pittsburgh, Penn., earning All-State honors in both football and track.

Rocco succeeds Ken Karcher who coached the Liberty Flames to a 21-46 record in his six seasons as head football coach.

Rocco is a native of Huntington, Pa., and is married to the former Julie Mills and the couple has two children – David (14) and Amy (11).

[PAmedic]

LU hires coach

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
December 2, 2005

Danny Rocco was always the No. 1 choice.

Liberty University chancellor Jerry Falwell had his eye on the University of Virginia associate head coach the minute former LU coach Ken Karcher was fired last month.

Falwell got his man when Rocco agreed to a five-year contract to become Liberty’s seventh head football coach, Falwell and Rocco confirmed on Thursday.

Rocco’s employment won’t officially begin until Jan. 1, 2006, but he plans to begin work on rebuilding the reeling Liberty football program immediately.

The hiring will be announced at a news conference this morning at LU’s DeMoss Center.

“It’s a unique opportunity,” Rocco said. “Dr. Falwell has a vision and he’s passionate about it. He’s given us the resources to move forward.

“In the short term, you’re really working on solidifying your recruiting classes and working on winning that Big South Conference.”

Falwell wouldn’t elaborate on the terms of Rocco’s contract, but said the school would pay the 45-year-old Rocco more than it paid Karcher, who made $125,898 per year.

Falwell made Rocco an offer Wednesday afternoon, but Rocco didn’t accept the position until after he met with Virginia head coach Al Groh Thursday morning.

Three other schools with vacancies contacted Rocco, though he declined to name the schools. He said one athletic director probed Rocco’s interest Thursday morning, but he had already accepted Falwell’s offer.

“I’m very excited that the focus has come down to LU,” Rocco said. “I’ve gotten what I wanted. That’s what excites me.”

Falwell was enamored with Rocco’s ties to the Lynchburg area, plus his recruiting ties in Virginia. Rocco’s father, Frank Sr., was LU’s director of football operations in 2000-01. His brothers Frank Jr. (Liberty Christian) and David (Staunton River) are high school coaches in the area.

Rocco coordinated UVa’s recruiting efforts in 2001 and 2002 and landed one of the best recruiting classes in school history. The 2002 class was ranked in the top 10 by several national recruiting services.

“(Groh) told me he’s the best recruiter he’s ever seen,” Falwell said. “He knows who the athletes are. He knows the name of the schools and the coaches. He knows the principals. And not just Virginia.

“He knows both Carolinas, Maryland, Pennsylvania. He knows where the athletes are that we get and we need. And he knows the ones that Virginia, Tech and the ACC almost take, but they take the other guy. That’s what we have to do. We have to get that guy.”

Falwell restated his long-term goals for the football program, which include moving the program to Division I-A within the next 10 years.

He also had a more immediate goal for 2006: a winning season. Even with Liberty coming off its worst season ever, Falwell said he believes Rocco is capable of making quick progress at LU.

“I know what the coach is planning on,” Falwell said. “He’s planning on a winning season next year.”

After meeting with the media and attending convocation at Vines Center this morning, Rocco will meet with Liberty’s players in the afternoon. He will spend next week in Lynchburg recruiting and hiring a coaching staff.

After Dec. 19, which is when a two-week NCAA mandated dead period for recruiting begins, Rocco will return to Charlottesville to help Groh get the Cavaliers ready for their bowl game. Virginia will likely play in either the Emerald Bowl Dec. 29 or the Music City Bowl Dec. 30.

The remaining assistant coaches will all have an opportunity to interview for their jobs. Falwell earlier said longtime assistant Pete Sundheim will remain on staff.

Falwell said 26 coaches showed interest in the job, and 14 were seriously considered. Bob Christmas, who won two state championships as a coach at Jefferson Forest High School, was flown in twice for interviews.

Rocco was taken aback when he found out Christmas had interviewed, Falwell said. Falwell added that even with several high-profile candidates showing interest - including one former SEC coach and a former Big 10 coach - he kept coming back to Rocco.

Former Liberty coach Sam Rutigliano flew in from Cleveland on Monday to assist in the process and he spent Wednesday evening in Charlottesville talking to Rocco, gauging what kind of head coach Rocco would make.

When Rutligiano returned to Lynchburg, there was no doubt in his mind, or Falwell’s, that Rocco was the right choice.

“He called me on the way back on his cell phone,” Falwell said, “and he said, ‘Danny’s the man.’ And I said OK.”

Next for Falwell is deciding on an athletics director, a decision he said could come in the next 10 days.

He wanted to have the football situation cleared up, however, so the new coach could begin recruiting immediately. Falwell also wanted Liberty’s players to be able to move forward after the dismal 1-10 season, and finding a new coach as quickly as possible would allow that to happen.

“Sam met with them last night and told them, ‘You’re going to like the new coach,’” Falwell said. “Great things are ahead.”

[PAmedic]

ok- good point(s) here:

“(Groh) told me he’s the best recruiter he’s ever seen,” Falwell said. “He knows who the athletes are. He knows the name of the schools and the coaches. He knows the principals. And not just Virginia.

“He knows both Carolinas, Maryland, Pennsylvania. He knows where the athletes are that we get and we need. And he knows the ones that Virginia, Tech and the ACC almost take, but they take the other guy. That’s what we have to do. We have to get that guy.”

and something else to think about:

Former Liberty coach Sam Rutigliano flew in from Cleveland on Monday to assist in the process and he spent Wednesday evening in Charlottesville talking to Rocco, gauging what kind of head coach Rocco would make.

When Rutligiano returned to Lynchburg, there was no doubt in his mind, or Falwell’s, that Rocco was the right choice.

“He called me on the way back on his cell phone,” Falwell said, “and he said, ‘Danny’s the man.’ And I said OK.”

hmmmmm...

[Chris Lang]

My sidebar, of course, didn't make it to our web site.

I spoke to Frank and David Rocco last night. Both left open the possibility of joining Danny's staff. Frank is leaning toward staying at LCA at this point, but said joining LU is "not out of the question."

[PAmedic]

he'd be a candidate at Off Coord then?

[PAmedic]

Only NOW is he official- 'cause his pic has graced the Firehouse.


Liberty University has named former
Virginia associate head coach Danny Rocco
the seventh head coach in the history
of the program.

[Sly Fox]

Very well done, Chris. In a subtle way it confirmed what we had been hearing all along that the two Lous (Holtz & Tepper) had expressed interest in the job.