Roll Tide
Jeff White
Mar 08, 2009
CHARLOTTESVILLE – Mike Groh wasn’t out of football for long. The former U.Va. offensive coordinator has accepted a position at the University of Alabama, where his boss is Nick Saban.
Virginia coach Al Groh, a former colleague of Saban, announced in early December that three of his assistants, including Mike, the older of his two sons, would not return in 2009. The younger Groh later tried unsuccessfully to land the head job at Towson, which competes in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
Alabama has yet to announce Groh’s hiring, but I’m told he’s technically a graduate assistant at the Southeastern Conference school, though his responsibilities figure to be greater than those of a typical G.A. Groh will receive his salary from U.Va. this year, so he can afford to work for low wages in Tuscaloosa.
Groh, 37, is a former standout quarterback for the Cavaliers. He spent eight seasons on his father’s staff at Virginia, the final three as offensive coordinator.
Alabama opens the season against Virginia Tech, of all teams.
—30—
Mike Groh lands at the University of Alabama.
Mar. 9, 2009 at 08:39 PM
I hope that Mike Groh will turn out to be one of the premier college football head coaches over the next twenty-five years or so. I’ll never forget THE FSU GAME. Good move and good luck Mike!
Mar. 9, 2009 at 03:31 PM
Its a smart move for Bama, but sad as well because normally the GA spot is the first big break for a young coach to show his potential, as well as to earn the advanced degree. Groh should have become a position coach, and left the GA spot to a young coach learning the ropes
Mar. 9, 2009 at 12:46 AM
At 37 years old would that make Mike Groh the oldest grad assistant in the history of the NCAA?