Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1445337
14 CAVALIER CORNER After graduating from Clemson, Elliott worked for about two years as an industrial engineer at a Michelin tire plant in Ander- son, S.C. His heart was still with football, though, and he left Michelin to become an assistant coach at South Carolina State. He spent two seasons at the college and three at Furman, after which he returned to his alma mater, where he helped Swinney build one of the nation's premier programs. Elliott had other opportunities to leave Clemson and become a head coach, but he waited patiently for what he saw as the right fit. UVA qualified as such. "I always knew when he took a head coaching job that he probably wanted to go to a school that really specified academ- ics," said Don Munson, Clemson's director of broadcasting. "And, to me, that's what Virginia is all about." Elliott takes over a program that won the ACC's Coastal Divi- sion in 2019 — Virginia lost to Clemson, coincidentally, in the ACC title game that year — be- fore dipping to 5-5 in 2020 and 6-6 in 2021. During the week that followed Mendenhall's Dec. 2 announce- ment, numerous UVA players, unsure of the program's direc- tion, entered the transfer por- tal. Several of them ultimately chose to leave, but others de- cided to return to Virginia. Elliott received more good news when record-setting quarterback Brennan Arm- strong announced he was coming back for another year on Grounds. Armstrong figures to enter the 2022 season as a Heisman Trophy candidate. "I think it's huge," Elliott said of Armstrong's return. "It just shows his commitment and belief in the University of Virginia, the football pro- gram, his trust in me as the chosen leader. "It shows that he has an objective, that there's something that he wants to get accomplished, whether it's on the field, person- ally from a developmental standpoint, or from a team standpoint. It just sends a message that he's got some things that are important to him. And he values this place so much that he believes he can accomplish those things here, with one more year." Among ACC teams, the Cavaliers ranked first in total offense (515.8 yards per game) in 2021, primarily because of a prolific passing game that featured Armstrong, wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks, Billy Kemp and Keytaon Thompson, and tight end Jelani Woods. Virginia ranked last in the ACC in rushing offense (123.2 yards per game). Elliott and new offensive coordinator Des Kitchings plan to take full advantage of Armstrong's talent, but look for the Cavaliers to run the ball more next season than they did in 2021. "We have to be balanced," Elliott said. "Obviously, you may lean one way or another a little bit, depending upon personnel, but I think that running the football sets the men- tality offensively. It also helps your defense create the mentality of being able to stop the run, because you're working against it every day in practice. "To me, even though I'm a wideout and I love to catch the ball, there's no better feeling than seeing the big boys up front just controlling the line of scrimmage. You're controlling the game, and you're dictating the pace of the game. And, usually, there are not many off days running the ball. "Throwing the ball, you can be a little bit off. You have a chance to be a little bit more consistent when you can run the ball ef- fectively, if you've got the personnel and the scheme to do it." Kitchings, who coached the Atlanta Falcons' running backs in 2021, was co- offensive coordinator at North Carolina State in 2019. The Cavaliers' new defensive coordinator is John Rudzinski, who held that position at Air Force for the past four seasons. Other newcomers on the staff are Keith Gaither (Army), Kevin Downing (Navy), Curome Cox (Air Force) and Chris Slade, who recently stepped down after a success- ful tenure as head coach at Pace Academy in Atlanta. Elliott retained three assistant coaches from Mendenhall's staff: Marques Hagans, Garett Tujague and Clint Sintim. Hagans, Slade and Sintim are former UVA standouts. The other assistants may not be as fa- miliar with Charlottesville, but they fit the profile that Elliott believes is necessary for success at UVA. "For me, as I evaluate the University of Virginia academically, the rigors, the pres- tige, what it takes to be successful aca- demically here, you're recruiting a certain profile or type of young man," Elliott said. "I was strategic in, one, identifying first and foremost good men that are going to help develop these young men on and off the field. "And then I wanted guys who have experi- ence having to recruit a different style of player that fit their institution in particular. That was important to me, and then guys that I know will get after it in recruiting, do- ing it the right way, not cutting any corners. "They understand the challenges that face them, but are not overwhelmed by those challenges and are willing to go com- pete."