London builds his staff

One of the most beloved players in Virginia football history is staying put.

Legendary safety Anthony Poindexter will, however, have some new faces to work with.

Newly-hired Virginia coach Mike London announced four staff appointments Thursday, including the expected retaining of Poindexter as the Cavaliers’ secondary coach.

Through a press release, Virginia also officially introduced former grad assistant Vincent Brown, Mike Faragalli and Jeff Hanson as assistants on London’s staff. All three worked under London at Richmond. Position assignments will come at a later date.

“All of them will bring passion and energy,” London said. “They are men of character who understand the academic pursuits and aspirations that a young man might seek at a university like the University of Virginia. They are good coaches, good people and good family men.

“They are guys that, when you meet me, you meet them. They are very capable and confident in what they do. In a short time people will see that they bring a lot to the table in terms of the overall development of the student-athletes they are going to be coaching.”

While announcing the transactions, London also said that further evaluation would be made in regards to former recruiting coordinator Bob Price, who doubled as the team’s tight ends coach under former coach Al Groh.

In addition to Poindexter, Price was kept after Groh was fired following the 42-13 season-ending loss to Virginia Tech. Price remained on the recruiting trail Thursday night, but the school-issued release said that London’s decision was pending “further evaluation.”

With the additions and Poindexter’s status revealed, London has five vacancies to fill on his staff, including offensive coordinator, a position linked to Bill Musgrave, who filled that position under Groh at one point.

While individual contracts were not disclosed, London’s contract states that a sum of $2 million will be allocated to pay his collection of assistants.

Poindexter’s return was considered a lock based on his standing amongst Virginia faithful and his ability to recruit.

London admitted that Poindexter, a former safety at UVa, was “passionate,” as a player and a coach.

“You look at that word, that’s Anthony there in the dictionary, his picture,” London said as he was announced on Monday.

With Poindexter coaching the secondary last year, Virginia has finished No. 21 in pass defense.

Like Poindexter, Brown is a familiar name in Virginia circles — he was a grad assistant under Groh in 2007, the season that led to a trip to the Gator Bowl.

A former inside linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys and an eight-year veteran of the NFL, Brown was excited about the return.

“It is a fantastic opportunity having been here a couple years ago,” he said. “I have seen how things operate and it’s a first-class operation. Now I have the chance to come back and work with a first-class coach I have been privileged to work with the past couple years. I still know some of the young men that are on this team and I am really excited about it.

“The sky’s the limit. There is no reason why this program can’t be a championship caliber program. I know coach London and the rest of the staff will work hard to make that happen.”

The hiring of Hanson gives the Cavaliers an experienced coach. He has 38 years of service, including 28 with Richmond and a stint at VMI as defensive line coach in 2008.

Last year, Hanson was the assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator, and defensive line coach for Richmond.

Faragalli, expected to be the quarterbacks coach, comes to UVa after serving as Richmond’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.

Under his watch the past two seasons, Eric Ward passed for 5,102 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Faragalli played professionally in the CFL and was the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 1995, becoming the league’s youngest coach ever.