ECU FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE The Daily Reflector January 25, 2010 East Carolina s new football coaching staff continued to take shape Monday, as new head coach Ruffin McNeill filled two key defensive positions. The Pirates named Brian Mitchell defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, while John Wiley has been appointed associate head coach and linebackers coach on McNeill s new staff. Mitchell had an 11-year tenure as a defensive assistant while at Brigham Young before joining McNeill on the staff at Texas Tech for four seasons as cornerbacks coach. Wiley, meanwhile, comes to Greenville after a long stint as Appalachian State s defensive coordinator. The new arrivals join 26-year old offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, who was hired by McNeill immediately after his own hire was confirmed. As the new ECU staff comes together, much of the old staff appears gone. Wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick will remain in Greenville, but all the other remaining coaches from the staff of Skip Holtz have been let go by McNeill. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch, defensive ends and special teams coach Vernon Hargreaves and defensive backs and assistant head coach Rick Smith have joined Holtz, the new head coach at South Florida. It appears that offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler, who was in the running to replace Holtz, might be headed south as well. Also gone are tight ends coach Phil Petty, running backs coach Junior Smith, interim defensive tackles coach John Gutekunst and offensive staff assistant Dwayne Leford. Still around are director of high school relations Harold Robinson, director of strength and conditioning Mike Golden and defensive tackles coach Thomas Rock Roggeman, who was on a leave of absence while battling cancer when Holtz announced he was leaving on Jan. 14. Mitchell was also previously announced as Memphis new cornerbacks coach Jan. 18. Brian s a very knowledgeable and experienced coach who has the ability to relate exceptionally well with his players, McNeill said. He s been able to draw on his experiences as a player at BYU and in the NFL and bring those leadership qualities into the coaching profession. The Texas Tech pass defense ranked best in the Big 12 Conference in 2006 and 2007, limiting opponents to 188.4 yards per game in 2007 the only Big 12 program to hold opponents below 200 yards per game. Wiley was the architect of a Mountaineer unit that produced 87 All-Southern Conference performers and played an integral role in three Football Championship Subdivision National Championships. Wiley closes out a 19-year tenure at ASU that included seven SoCon titles and 12 FCS postseason appearances. John has been around a lot of success and that s not by coincidence, McNeill said. I was impressed with his manner and standing in the profession when we coached together, and his reputation has only continued to prosper from there. He s a great addition to our program, undoubtedly one of the people we need on our bus.
Wiley s units topped the Southern Conference statistical standings in total defense during the 2000 and 2006 seasons, and recently wrapped up 2009 by tallying 18 interceptions on the way to an 11-3 record.
MITCHELL NAMED PIRATES' DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR John Wiley tabbed ECU associated head football coach Washington Daily News ECU Sports Information January 26, 2010 GREENVILLE Brian Mitchell, who spent 11 seasons as a defensive assistant at Brigham Young and most recently served four years as the cornerbacks coach at Texas Tech, has been appointed defensive coordinator at East Carolina University according to an announcement from head football coach Ruffin McNeill Monday. Before reuniting with McNeill by accepting his offer to direct the Pirate defense and guide the secondary, Mitchell was also previously announced as Memphis' new cornerbacks coach Jan. 18. "Brian's a very knowledgeable and experienced coach who has the ability to relate exceptionally well with his players," McNeill said. "He's been able to draw on his experiences as a player at BYU and in the NFL and bring those leadership qualities into the coaching profession." The Red Raiders were solid at the corners each of the last four seasons under Mitchell. Jamar Wall led the group with 62 tackles and two interceptions in 2008. His biggest pick was a game-saving interception in overtime against Nebraska on Tech's homecoming. Wall was named to the All-Big 12 second team in 2009, and ranked second in the league and tied for second nationally with 17 passes defended. The Texas Tech pass defense ranked best in the Big 12 Conference in 2006 and 2007, limiting opponents to 188.4 yards per game in 2007 - the only Big 12 program to hold opponents below 200 yards per game. The unit didn't skip a beat during his first season in 2006 as Red Raider corners picked four of the team's 11 interceptions. Starters Antonio Huffman and Chris Parker snagged two each as the Texas Tech pass defense ranked first in the Big 12 Conference. Parker, in his first season as a starter in the secondary, blossomed under Mitchell by posting 50 tackles and six pass breakups. Following a brief career in the NFL, Mitchell returned to his alma mater, BYU, and earned a degree in clinical social work in 1994, before landing a position as defensive backs coach the following year on legendary collegiate coach LaVell Edwards' staff. Mitchell, 41, enjoyed success in 11 overall coaching seasons with the Cougars, helping guide the team to five bowl appearances and a high ranking of No. 5 at the conclusion of the 1996 season. BYU played in the Cotton Bowl that year, knocking off Kansas State, 19-15. Additionally, the 1994 (18th) and 2001 (24th) teams finished among the top 25. Furthermore, the Cougars captured back-to-back Western Athletic Conference championships during his stay, which included the '96 squad that rolled to a 14-1 record. He coached several outstanding players on the Cougar defense, including safety Aaron Francisco. Francisco, who helped BYU to a No. 8 national pass defense ranking in 2003, was a two-time First-Team All-Mountain West Conference selection before going on to play for the Arizona Cardinals. Brian Gray and Jenaro Gilford were all-conference performers in 1999 and 2001, respectively. Mitchell, a native of Waco, Texas, played at BYU from 1987-90 and was a seventh-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1991. He spent three seasons in the NFL, splitting time with Atlanta and the Dallas Cowboys. The All-WAC cornerback played in four bowls while with the Cougars and ran the opening leg of BYU's All-America 400M relay team. He still holds the school record for the longest interception return, a 97-yard effort against New Mexico in 1989. His 13 career interceptions stand fifth in the school's record book, while his five picks in 1989 were a season high.
Mitchell and his wife, Carri, have two daughters, Mikenzi and Halie, and a son, Brian. Veteran Appalachian State Defensive Coordinator Also Accepts Role As Pirates' Linebacker Coach
JOHN WILEY NAMED ECU ASSOCIATED HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Washington Daily News ECU Sports Information January 26, 2010 GREENVILLE Veteran Appalachian State defensive coordinator John Wiley, the architect of a Mountaineer unit that produced 87 All-Southern Conference performers and played a integral role in three Football Championship Subdivision National Championships, has been named associate head football coach at East Carolina University according to an announcement from head football coach Ruffin McNeill Monday. Wiley, who will also assume a direct position coaching role with the Pirate linebackers, closes out a 19-year tenure at ASU that included seven SoCon titles and 12 FCS post-season appearances. "John has been around a lot of success and that's not by coincidence," McNeill said. "I was impressed with his manner and standing in the profession when we coached together, and his reputation has only continued to prosper from there. He's a great addition to our program, undoubtedly one of the people we need on our bus." After capturing FCS national titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Appalachian State rolled to a combined 16-0 league mark in 2008 and 2009. The Mountaineers advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division I playoffs a year ago before falling in the semifinals last December and concluding the season with a No. 3 national rank. In addition to the 87 all-league selections, Wiley also mentored seven ASU defensive backs who earned All-America honors, including 2008 and 2009 consensus first-team pick Mark LeGree who netted a combined 17 interceptions during those respective campaigns. While a total of eight Mountaineers have been chosen Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the- Year under Wiley's leadership, three have earned the award in the last four years with Marques Murrell (2006), Corey Lynch (2007) and Jacque Roman (2008). Wiley's units topped the Southern Conference statistical standings in total defense during the 2000 and 2006 seasons, and recently wrapped up 2009 by tallying 18 interceptions on the way to an 11-3 record. As Appalachian State's secondary coach, which began with a two-year stint from 1989 to 1990, Wiley developed five NFL Draft picks - Keith Collins (1990), Gary Dandridge (1992), Matt Stevens (1996), Corey Hall (2001) and Corey Lynch (2008). Lynch recently closed out a stellar career in which he became ASU's all-time leader in takeaways with 31 and the career FCS leader with 52 passes defended. Wiley, 48, opened his career at Texas in 1987 where he helped the Longhorns to a Bluebonnet Bowl appearance as a defensive backs coach. After another season in Austin and two campaigns at Appalachian State, Wiley worked with the secondary and special teams units at Iowa Wesleyan in 1991 and helped the Tigers to a No. 5 NAIA ranking and national playoff appearance. A year later, he served on the Valdosta (Ga.) State staff in the same capacity, helping the Blazers to a Top 20 national ranking in NCAA Division II before re-joining the Mountaineer program in 1993. Wiley was a three-year football letterman at East Texas State University and part of the Lions' 1983 Lone Star Conference championship team before earning a bachelor's degree in 1984. A native of Texas City, Texas, Wiley is married to the former Kelly Ponder and the couple are the parents of three children - daughter Megan and sons Jax and Luke.
ECU ADDS TWO TO STAFF McNeill names defensive coordinator, associate head coach Sun-Journal David Hall January 26, 2010 GREENVILLE East Carolina football coach Ruffin McNeill has made two significant additions to his staff. Former Texas Tech cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell was named the Pirates defensive coordinator and veteran Appalachian State defensive coordinator John Wiley was named associate head coach, McNeill announced Monday. Mitchell, who spent 11 seasons as a defensive assistant at Brigham Young before serving four years with McNeill on Mike Leach s staff at Texas Tech, was reunited with McNeill after accepting a position as cornerbacks coach at Memphis on Jan. 18. Mitchell, 41, played three seasons as a defensive back in the NFL in the early 1990s after a career at BYU. Brian s a very knowledgeable and experienced coach who has the ability to relate exceptionally well with his players, said McNeill, who was hired last week after Skip Holtz left ECU for South Florida. He s been able to draw on his experiences as a player at BYU and in the NFL and bring those leadership qualities into the coaching profession. Wiley, who will coach ECU s linebackers, closes out a 19-year tenure at ASU that included seven Southern Conference titles, three FCS national championships and 12 postseason appearances. McNeill and Wiley, 48, coached together at ASU from 1993-96, when McNeill was the Mountaineers defensive coordinator. John has been around a lot of success, and that s not by coincidence, McNeill said. I was impressed with his manner and standing in the profession when we coached together, and his reputation has only continued to prosper from there. The two new hires join former Texas Tech inside receivers coach Lincoln Riley, who was named ECU s offensive coordinator on Friday.
WILEY DESCENDS FROM MOUNTAIN TO HELP RUFF Bonesville.net By Al Myatt May 13, 2010 Why did John Wiley leave his post as defensive coordinator at Appalachian State, a football championship subdivision power, to coach linebackers and become associate head coach at East Carolina? "That question has been posed to me on numerous occasions," Wiley said during a stop on the recruiting trail on Wednesday. "Appalachian is a great place and Coach (Jerry) Moore is a great man. The root of the answer lies with Ruffin McNeill as a person and football coach. "Our paths crossed 20 years ago and we planned to work together again. He got the opportunity at East Carolina." McNeill, an ECU alumnus who became head coach of the Pirates in January, and Wiley worked together on the staff at Appalachian in 1990. Wiley helped the Mountaineers win national championships in the FCS playoffs in 2005, 2006 and 2007. "John has been around a lot of success and that's not by coincidence," McNeill said when his hiring of Wiley, 48, was announced. "I was impressed with his manner and standing in the profession when we coached together, and his reputation has only continued to prosper from there. He's a great addition to our program, undoubtedly one of the people we need on our bus." Wiley's wife, the former Kelly Ponder, is from Raleigh. The Wileys have three children. Daughter Megan is a freshman at Appalachian. Sons Jax and Luke are 11 and nine years old. "Having grandmother an hour and 20 minutes away (in Raleigh) was another influential factor," Wiley said. "Also on the plus side was that East Carolina is in the UNC system as far as retirement and benefits are concerned." Wiley spent his youth on the Gulf Coast of Texas and Greenville's proximity to the ocean was another welcomed change. "I'd been up on the mountain for 20 years and I was kind of anxious to get back to flat land and water," Wiley said. "I've been in the state so long that I also was aware of East Carolina's rabid following. I knew they had been successful and I knew it was a good school. Other than leaving Appalachian State and my good friends there, everything else made it an easy move." Wiley's role as associate head coach of the Pirates might be compared to the relatively low profile of being Vice President. "I'm learning day by day about what the position involves," Wiley said. "If anything does happen to the head coach there is a guy next in charge kind of thing. But it's nothing really specific. It's as much an honor as anything else. "I may be called on to stand in for Ruff on some speaking assignments if he has other responsibilities. I really just serve at the pleasure of the head coach." The linebacker situation Wiley spent spring practice trying to get a handle on the personnel at the Mike (middle), Sam (strong side) and Will (weak side) linebacking spots and how that group will fit into the Pirates' new overall defensive scheme. Gone from the linebacking corps of ECU's second straight Conference USA championship team are tackling leaders such as Nick Johnson, Jeremy Chambliss and Chris Mattocks.
Matt Thompson, who started two games last season at outside linebacker against Southern Methodist and Rice, and Dustin Linebeck, who also made a start at an outside backer against the Owls, comprise the extent of the returning starters in Wiley's group. Junior Steve Spence was moved to middle linebacker in the spring. "He responded extremely well," Wiley said. "He's a talented player. He should come into the preseason at about 230 pounds. He should match up well in our coverage schemes and blitz packages." Another traveled player in terms of previous positions, senior Melvin Patterson, is projected to back up Spence at the middle spot. "He made plays and added excitement," Wiley said of Patterson's spring performance." Redshirt freshman Ty Holmes also is in the mix at middle linebacker, according to the post spring depth chart. The Pirates moved senior Wes Pittman from safety to strongside linebacker. "He's played in space," Wiley said. "With the spread offenses that we'll face that guy has to play in space. He'll be lined up over slot receivers and rush off the edge in pass situations. He has a little more speed that will help him in those situations." Linebeck is projected to start his senior season at the weakside spot. "He's played significant time for the previous staff," Wiley said. "He's experienced and he runs well." Despite missing spring due to a shoulder ailment, Cliff Perryman is expected to contribute at the weakside position. Generally speaking, Wiley said his group had a productive spring. "The guys caught on pretty well," he said. "They got the terminology and they got a grasp of the matchup zone coverage as well as the blitz stuff.... These kids will run to the ball, which was one thing we harped on all spring long and they're not afraid to work hard." The defensive line was a team strength last season and although losses on the front were considerable, Wiley said replacements have considerable potential. The talent of Linval Joseph, Jay Ross, C.J. Wilson and Scotty Robinson made everybody's job behind them much easier. "We've got talented guys up front," Wiley said. "They're just not experienced." Recruiting responsibilities Wiley was building recruiting relationships at high schools in the tidewater Virginia area on Wednesday. He has another week on the road recruiting before returning to Greenville. "First off, Coach McNeill put out a mandate that we get into every high school in North Carolina," Wiley said. "Everybody (on staff) has got an area in the state." Wiley is responsible for the northeast quadrant of North Carolina, an area that extends west to Nash County from ECU, north to Virginia from that point and east of Greenville to Manteo. From there he works north into Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Suffolk and Chesapeake, VA. The Pirates will work especially hard to keep players from leaving the region. "We believe we should make it hard for a kid east of I-95 not to want to come to East Carolina," Wiley said. "There are a lot of small schools in that area but what we've discovered is that there also are a lot of talented football players.
"The previous staff did a great job of getting talented defensive front people and we're targeting along those same lines. At linebacker, we're probably looking for a little bit longer guys with more speed because of the pressure and coverage stuff that we want to do. "At safety, we're looking for big, fast players, like everybody else." Former Pirate Marc Yellock, who is McNeill's defensive tackles coach, will recruit an area adjoining Wiley's that includes Hampton and Newport News, VA, and the area up to Washington, DC. "Virginia Tech has built its program on the back of the Tidewater area and that hasn't gone unnoticed," Wiley said. "Everybody sends recruiters there. There are a lot of good football players over there." Game plans on the agenda When Wiley and fellow staff members return to the football offices from recruiting week after next, one of the focal points will be formulating game plans for ECU's first three opponents of the 2010 season Tulsa, Marshall and Virginia Tech. The Pirate players will be involved in summer workouts with strength coach Mike Golden. "We'll make a dry run at game plans," Wiley said. "We'll put stuff in the computer and get it broken down. We'll also include Navy (ninth game, Nov. 6) because they're using an offense (triple option) we won't see." After hosting several camps in June, the ECU coaches will get a break before convening to prepare for preseason practice. Plans for free time Wiley's family will move from Boone when his boys complete their school year. The linebackers coach took a drive to Atlantic Beach on a Sunday during spring practice and he plans to visit more as down time from coaching responsibilities permits. "We'll take every opportunity to explore Atlantic Beach and the Outer Banks," Wiley said. "I like to play ball with those two boys. We're pushed so much in this profession, you really want to have time with your family when you have a break. "I'm a fitness guy. I like to run and play racquetball. It will be football and family. I'll get to the beach when I can."
WILEY WON'T PLAY FAVORITES AT LINEBACKER The Daily Reflector By Nathan Summers August 18, 2010 John Wiley has a way of taking the complexities of football and putting them into much simpler parameters. The first-year linebackers coach at East Carolina is certainly making things clear to his players in August camp, where the Pirates are in the throes of trying to replace every single man on their defensive front seven. There is precious little starting experience at linebacker, yet there is no shortage of talent or options for Wiley. Instead of fretting over one player or another at any great length, Wiley has taken the opposite approach replace as necessary. While the same potential starters coming out of spring drills junior Steve Spence at the Mike or middle spot, senior Wes Pittman at the Sam or strong side spot and senior Dustin Lineback at the Will or weak side position have continued to be heavy in the top rotation, Wiley s main focus is building depth. That means never playing favorites. The luxury it affords me is that if one of them is not functioning at a high rate one day, I can send him to the sideline and bring the next guy in, said Wiley, who spent 16 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Appalachian State. But that s what we re trying to do. We re trying to stack two and three deep of equal football players so the cream rises to the top. All three of the potential starters will be first-timers in that regard outside Lineback s three starts in two seasons, but Wiley thinks total game experience counts for more than starts. Every time I turn on the tape I saw Dustin out there a lot, Wiley said of last year s game film. You couldn t call him a starter but he played a significant amount. And he plays like that on the field (now). Another senior, Melvin Patterson, has emerged to make a bid for an impact role in his final season. With Spence slowed by a lower leg injury, it s been Patterson manning the top spot in the middle for much of the summer. Also, the battle for the third spot is ongoing between redshirt Ty Holmes and true freshman Jeremy Grove. On the strong side, sophomore Lamar McCLendon is back in the fold to challenge Pittman. Also back is junior Matt Thompson, who is working his way back after an off-field incident last spring. In Matt and Wes and Lamar, we ve got three very similar athletes, Wiley said. It s kind of that hybrid position part linebacker, part safety a nickel kind of guy, and we re comfortable with those guys. Also battling for repetitions at linebacker are junior Cliff Perryman, sophomore walk-on James Craig, sophomore Marshall transfer Daniel Drake, redshirt Kyle Tudor and true freshman Jacob Geary. Practice progress Tuesday s day off from practice was what head coach Ruffin McNeill described as a necessary part of getting his football team into the rhythm of the game week. As is always the case, a high number of bumps and bruises from the first two weeks of camp have helped to make the day off well-timed. ECU was back at it full throttle on Wednesday, putting in a pair of sessions.
I m just trying to make sure this team goes through as many game situations and preps as we can before game week, McNeill said Wednesday, also noting that at least one day off is required by the NCAA. We started off a little bit sluggish, but it picked up toward the end, and I saw some good things and was pleased. McNeill said he was happy with the amount of situational play that came out of Wednesday s early session, including field goal sequences, punts and red zone work. Although a depth chart is not finalized yet, McNeill said the staff is getting closer to nailing down who will start against Tulsa on Sept. 5. He said he is hopeful some of the players with lingering injuries will return this week or next in order to help stabilize their spots. Injuries Spence, defensive tackle Antonio Allison, running back Michael Dobson, fullback Ben Herlocker and wide receiver Gray Mazzone all missed practice Wednesday with injuries. Returning after sitting out Monday s session were safeties Derek Blacknall and Justin Venable and defensive lineman Robert Jones.