CHARLOTTESVILLE – Al Groh’s regular Thursday teleconference with reporters ended a few minutes ago.  Groh had plenty to say about yesterday’s announcement that Ron Prince would not return as Kansas State’s coach in 2009.

“I was definitely surprised by it,” Groh said.  “But this is one of the best coaches I’ve ever coached with and one of the best people I’ve ever worked with, so clearly he’s got a very bright future in front of him.”

Prince, of course, was U.Va.’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach before leaving for K-State after the 2005 regular season.

The trend toward midseason announcements of coaching changes is “disturbing,” Groh said, especially “in this case where the coach has not even completed three seasons.

“It takes a little while, especially when you’re not the premier team in the conference, as they’re not. They’ve had good teams, but I think most of us would agree Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, teams like that, have been up there for a long time. It takes a little while to get things going the way that you’d like them to be. There’s a lot of examples of coaches whose administrations stuck by them who turned out to do a real good job.”

Of the former Groh assistants who left to become head coaches – the others are Danny Rocco (Liberty), Mike London (Richmond) and Al Golden (Temple) – Prince has stayed closest with his one-time boss.

Prince’s players at Kansas State include two who began their college careers at U.Va. – outside linebacker Olu Hall and defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald.  Both transferred to K-State largely because of their relationships with Prince, and at Groh’s recommendation.

Hall is playing this season.  Fitzgerald, a former Hermitage High star, is sitting out as a transfer.  When he suits up for the Wildcats in 2009 – his final season of eligibility – it will not be for the coach Fitzgerald expected to play for.

“After thinking about Ron and his family, I definitely thought about those kids,” Groh said.

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Posted by Jeff White in • College Sports • University of Virginia
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