Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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five questions RECRUITING COORDINATOR AND CORNERBACKS COACH CHIP WEST Cavalier Corner: You were named the Recruiter of the Year in the ACC by Scout.com. What was your reaction when you found out, and how does it feel to get recognized with something like that? West: "I think it's an honor to be blessed enough to earn recognition of that magnitude. But at the end of the day, I don't look to get any limelight or anything like that. I just work as hard as I can at recruiting, and whatever happens, happens." Cavalier Corner: You've helped put together some impressive recruiting classes since you've gotten to UVa. What is it about the staff that recruits are responding to? West: "Most of the guys you recruit, they al- ways talk about family. So they look at UVa and see it as home. If it feels like home, it must be family. "It's the way they feel, either with us as coaches or with the school itself. I think the brand of the school sells itself." Cavalier Corner: Now that there are a lot of talented young players in the program and some of them have gained valuable experience already, how do you help them figure out what it takes to win in the ACC? West: "You just try to teach them as much as you can. Throughout spring ball and the reps they get in spring ball as well as film study, they are doing it all year in the offseason to make sure we aren't making the same mistakes they were making a year ago. "It's just a matter of understanding and gaining knowledge from the reps they are getting." Cavalier Corner: Obviously things are going well as the recruiting coordinator. From a position coach's standpoint, how are the cornerbacks doing as a group this spring? West: "We have a lot of work to do. All in all, as a group we have a lot of room for improvement, but I do think we are improving." Cavalier Corner: It seems like every year there's been a UVa corner who has a breakout season. Who is primed to do that this year? West: "It's up in the air for all the guys. It's a matter of making the plays we are able to make and keep on working on our technique and all the concepts that are out in front of us. "I'm not really picking any one guy for that, but I think it's up for the taking. It's a matter of being able to execute the defense. We just have to keep on getting better." — Shane Mettlen Scout.com tabbed West as the 2014 Recruiter of the Year for the Atlantic Coast Conference. PHOTO COURTESY UVA i08-11.V-Sports.indd 2 4/2/14 11:18 AM