When Al Groh called Virginia Director of Athletics Terry Holland to accept the Cavalier coaching job, it took only one word - "Wahoowah!" - to let Holland know he had the man who would replace George Welsh at the helm of the Cav program.
Groh spent 13 of the last 14 years coaching in the NFL but stepped down as head coach of the New York Jets after one season to return to his alma mater.
"There's been a lot of elation and excitement about coming back to Charlottesville," Groh said of the city that has become his family's adopted home.
Groh, 56, graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce in 1967 after earning four letters as a defensive end and lettering in lacrosse. He returned to Virginia in 1970 as the head coach of the now-defunct freshman team, and took charge of the varsity defensive line a year later.
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Everywhere he coached, from Albemarle High in 1967 to the New York, where he won the 1990 Super Bowl with the Giants, Groh left his mark.
"I don't define myself as a coach," Groh said. "I just let other people talk about 'how he coaches.' [Jets Director of Football Operations Bill] Parcells introduced me when I became the head coach of the Jets. He said, 'This guy is smart. He's tough. And he's focused.' I'm kind of proud of that. I like that description."
Groh was the linebackers coach at North Carolina (1973-77), where he helped recruit and coach Lawrence Taylor, before leaving for three years as the defensive coordinator at Air Force and Texas Tech.
In 1981, Groh got his first college head coaching job, taking over at Wake Forest. In six seasons, he posted a 36-40 record, good for second best in program history.
After sending 14 players to NFL careers in his six years at Wake Forest, Groh spent the 1987 season coaching special teams and tight ends for the Atlanta Falcons. He was the offensive coordinator at South Carolina for a year before beginning a professional partnership that would last more than a decade by joining forces with Parcells, then the New York Giants head coach.
As an NFL coach, Groh helped put together some of the league's best defenses. The 1990 Giants allowed the fewest number of points in the NFL, surrendering only 13.3 points per game.
After a one-year stint as the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, Groh rejoined Parcells, who had since become the head coach of the New England Patriots. In 1996, the Patriots reached the Super Bowl, thanks in large part to Groh's stifling defense.
"When [Groh] talks football, there's absolutely no question that he knows what he's talking about," Holland said.
After losing Super Bowl XXXI to Green Bay, Parcells left New England for the Jets, accompanied by Groh. With Bill Belichick entrenched as defensive coordinator, Groh coached the Jets' linebackers. When Parcells moved up to the front office after the 1999 season and Belichick, his hand-picked successor, resigned after one day as head coach, the Jets turned to Groh as their 12th head coach.
In Groh's lone season at the helm, the Jets failed to make the playoffs after a promising 4-0 start by losing their last three games to finish 9-7.
Groh has a reputation for being a mentor and a motivator. When the 1994 Patriots lost six of their first nine games, he pulled an old shovel from his garage and told the team they would have to dig themselves out, one shovelful at a time. The team went on to make the playoffs for the first time under Parcells.
Almost 20 of Groh's former players were on hand at his introductory press conference Jan. 5. Among them was former Cav All-American and current Patriots star Chris Slade, who said no one was more deserving of the Virginia job than Groh, who coached him for four years in New England.
Groh said he was very happy with the Jets and his relationships with coaching staff and players, but the Virginia job was the only opportunity that could lure him away.
"I'm here to produce a team that the University will be proud of within the tradition and the legacy and what makes this a great university," Groh said, "I think this is one of those institutions that people belong to forever."
After 13 teams and 33 years of coaching, Groh decided to return home.
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