Al Groh Biography

Like many individuals, Al Groh has a nameplate on his desk. His serves a dual purpose, however. On the back is small green and white sign given to him when he became the head coach of the New York Jets in 2000. The message is simple – “Just Coach the Team.”

Bill Parcells, one of Groh’s mentors, presented him with the sign as a daily reminder to ignore the outside influences that can take a coach away from his primary focus. As the New York Giants former head coach, Parcells knew how distractions can sidetrack any team on a mission to win a championship.

Entering his ninth year as the head football coach at Virginia, his alma mater, Groh has done a masterful job of not only making the program competitive on the national stage, he has helped change the environment and culture around the team so that the UVa Football Experience is one of the best in the nation.
Groh has been recognized during three of his first eight years at Virginia with coach of the year honors. He has been named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2002 & 2007 and the American Football Coaches Association’s Regional Coach of the Year in 2004.

With Scott Stadium hosting capacity crowds on a regular basis, future schedules include high profile match-ups, upgraded facilities and additions to support staff services, Groh has helped to create a bright, exciting atmosphere for the Virginia football Cavaliers.
Since taking over as head coach in 2001, Groh has led Virginia to 56 wins and five bowl appearances. In the team’s last postseason appearance, Groh guided the 2007 squad to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl while earning ACC Coach of the Year laurels for the second time in his career.

Last season the list of players to earn All-ACC honors under Groh grew to 53, including first-team selections by tackle Eugene Monroe and tight end John Phillips. Monroe became the second Cavalier during Groh’s tenure to receive the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC’s top lineman, joining two-time winner Elton Brown. He and Clint Sintim were named to various All-America teams, becoming the 10th and 11th Cavaliers to earn that distinction under Groh.

The 2007 season marked the fifth time during his seven years on Grounds that Groh has led UVa to a bowl game. During that span his teams came away victorious three times, including a dramatic 34-31 win against Minnesota in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl in 2005.

That same year Chris Long became the program’s third unanimous All-American, the Ted Hendricks Award winner, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and later went on to be taken second overall in the NFL Draft, joining offensive guard Branden Albert as a first-round pick.

When he was named the program’s head coach on Dec. 30, 2000, Groh traded in a high-profile NFL head coaching job with the New York Jets for an opportunity to return to Virginia. He succeeded George Welsh, who retired after 19 seasons at the helm of the Cavaliers, as the winningest coach in ACC and school history.

In addition to his 56-44 record, Groh’s teams are 34-30 against ACC competition. His conference win total is the second-most in school history behind Welsh (85).

To say that Groh and his exciting brand of pro-style football have already made a significant impact on the UVa program would be an understatement.

• In 2006, the youthful Cavaliers finished 5-7 overall with impressive wins over NC State and Miami. Four Cavaliers earned All-ACC accolades, including second-team honorees CB Marcus Hamilton and DE Chris Long. Freshmen DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald, OT Will Barker, and QB Jameel Sewell, who filled starting roles for the ‘Hoos, were named to The Sporting News’ Freshman All-American team. Fitzgerald was also named to the Rivals.com first-team Freshman All-America squad.

• Virginia finished the 2005 regular season at 6-5, including upsets of No. 4 Florida State and No. 24 Georgia Tech. That season also marked just the second time in the program’s history UVa received a bowl invitation four consecutive seasons.

• Virginia concluded the 2004 season at 8-4 (5-3 ACC) and made its third consecutive bowl appearance. The Cavaliers led the ACC in rushing offense, total offense, first downs, and third-down conversions and set a school record with 34 rushing touchdowns. Groh was honored by his peers as the 2004 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year.

• In 2003 the Cavaliers were nationally ranked all season and finished 23rd in the final Associated Press poll. Virginia finished 8-5 (4-4 ACC) in 2003 and celebrated a return trip to the Continental Tire Bowl with a 23-16 win over Pittsburgh. With the victory, Virginia claimed consecutive bowl championships for just the second time in school history.

• During his second season at the helm in 2002, Groh masterfully led the Cavaliers to a 9-5 overall record (6-2 ACC, tied for second), including a 48-22 triumph over No. 15 West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl. With the bowl victory, Virginia clinched its first season of nine-or-more wins since 1998 and the sixth in school history. UVa was ranked 22nd in the final Associated Press poll, the team’s highest final ranking since 1998. Virginia was picked to finish eighth in the conference in the 2002 preseason.

Named the 2002 ACC Coach of Year, Groh became only the second coach in UVa history to lead the Cavaliers to a bowl game. Virginia made all 12 of its previous appearances under Welsh.

At the same time, approximately two-thirds of Virginia’s 2002 roster was comprised of sophomores and either true or red-shirt freshmen. A total of 14 true freshmen and eight red-shirt freshmen saw action for the 2002 Cavaliers, with as many as 10 freshmen starting at times during the season.

In addition to its bowl victory over West Virginia, Virginia claimed three other wins over ranked opponents in 2002. Among them were back-to-back victories over No. 22 N.C. State (14-9) and No. 18 Maryland (48-13) in November. The Cavaliers also defeated No. 22 South Carolina 34-21 earlier in the season.

Following his first season at Virginia, Groh was chosen defensive head coach of the Gray team in the 64th Annual Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic, held December 25, 2001, in Montgomery, Ala.

He was named head coach of the New York Jets before the start of the 2000 season and led that franchise to a 9-7 record in his one year at the helm. During the season, the Jets staged the “Monday Night Miracle” by overcoming a 30-7 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Miami 40-37 in overtime. Groh previously coached in two Super Bowls as an assistant under Parcells, winning an NFL championship ring with the 1990 New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV and later going to Super Bowl XXXI with the 1996 New England Patriots.

In addition to serving one season as the Jets’ head coach, Groh coached the linebackers for the Jets under Parcells for three years, from 1997-99.

Groh moved with Parcells when Parcells resigned as head coach of the New England Patriots to take over as the Jets’ head coach in 1997. During Groh’s tenure at New England, where he served as defensive coordinator, the Patriots’ defense improved yearly in nearly every category and ranked among the league’s best in takeaways, yards allowed and points allowed. The Patriots finished with an 11-5 record in 1996, winning the AFC championship and playing the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. Chris Slade, a former All-America linebacker at Virginia, was among the many defensive standouts whom Groh coached at New England.
Groh’s other NFL coaching stops include one season as linebackers coach on Bill Belichick’s staff with the Cleveland Browns (in 1992) and one season with the Atlanta Falcons (in 1987) as special teams and tight ends coach for Marion Campbell.

He began his coaching career as an assistant football coach at Charlottesville’s Albemarle High School in 1967. The following year, he moved to Tom Cahill’s staff at Army where he was the defensive coach for the plebe squad and worked with Parcells for the first time in his career. Groh returned to UVa in 1970 to serve as the head coach of the freshman team and as the defensive line coach through the 1972 season.

From 1973-77, Groh served as an assistant at North Carolina where he coached Lawrence Taylor, whom he later coached with the Giants. He joined Parcells at Air Force in 1978 as defensive coordinator before moving to Texas Tech in 1980 and becoming head coach at Wake Forest in 1981.

While at Wake Forest, Groh guided the program to only its second winning season in 13 years with a 6-5 record in 1984. During his tenure, the school produced one first-team All-American, 12 first-team All-ACC selections, 15 All-ACC Academic selections, one ACC Rookie of the Year and one Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipient. Groh also helped develop 14 players who would later go on to play in the NFL, the most concentrated group of pro players produced in Demon Deacon history to that point.

In between his NFL coaching jobs with the Falcons and Giants, Groh served as offensive coordinator at South Carolina in 1988.

In order for his vision to become reality, Groh has intensified UVa’s efforts to recruit and develop the best high school players from around the country, with a strong focus on the state of Virginia.

Toward that end, Groh and company landed UVa’s fourth prized recruiting class in 2005. Groh’s first recruiting class was ranked in the top 10 nationally by most major recruiting services in 2002.

Groh’s return to Charlottesville was preceded by his reputation as a motivator and tireless teacher of the game. “I think teaching is what I do best,” he said. “I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my ability to communicate with players and tell them in an honest and straightforward manner what they need to do to get better.”

A legendary example of Groh’s ability to motivate and inspire his players occurred during the 1994 season at New England, where the Patriots had gotten off to a 3-6 start. Groh decided he would grab an old shovel from his garage and bring it to work the next day. He is known to have told the players, “See this shovel, men?
This is how we’re going to get out of this thing. Everyone take a shovel, and you dig one shovelful at a time.” The Patriots didn’t lose another game that regular season, reaching the playoffs for the first time under Parcells. Groh brought his shovel to every game, keeping it on the sidelines as a reminder of what it took to overcome adversity.

As he has done throughout his coaching career, Groh takes a hands-on-approach to directing the UVa football program.

“I am the head coach of the team,” he said. “As a result, I intend to be involved in every facet of the operation: offense, defense, special teams, off-season program, academic advisement and recruiting.
“I’m going to coach the team, day-to-day, the way I think it needs to be coached.”

A 1967 graduate of UVa’s McIntire School of Commerce, Groh was a member of the varsity football team from 1963-65, playing under Bill Elias and George Blackburn. He lettered at defensive end in 1965. He also lettered as a defenseman on the Cavalier lacrosse team.

Groh was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. He attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, N.Y., where he was a standout athlete and earned All-Metropolitan honors in football.
Groh’s ties to the University and Charlottesville extend well beyond his days as a former Cavalier player and assistant coach. His oldest son Mike–in his seventh year as an assistant coach at UVa–was the starting quarterback at Virginia in 1994 and 1995. Many of Groh’s family live in the Charlottesville area, and his father is buried here.

Groh and his wife, Anne, are the parents of two sons, Mike and Matthew, and a daughter, Ashley Anne. Matthew played quarterback at Princeton and is a graduate of Virginia’s School of Law. Mike was a quarterback at Virginia and later served as an assistant coach and offensive coordinate for the Cavaliers. The Grohs have two grandsons– Cameron (eight) and Connor (six). The Groh family is very active in the Charlottesville area. Their work with charitable causes includes the UVa Children’s Hospital, Madison House, Computers 4 Kids and the Charlottesville Catholic School.


The Al Groh File

Born: July 13, 1944 in New York City
Family: Married to former Anne Stahle of Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.; three children: Mike, Ashley Anne, Matt
High School: Chaminade H.S., Mineola, N.Y.
College: University of Virginia, B.S in Commerce, 1967.
Note: Earned letters in football and lacrosse.

Coaching Experience

High School & College Coaching Background
1967–Asst. Football Coach, Albemarle High School, Charlottesville, Va.
1968-69–Defensive Coach for the Plebe Team (Freshman), United States Military Academy
1970–Head Freshman Coach, University of Virginia
1971-72–Defensive Line Coach, University of Virginia
1973-77–Linebackers Coach, University of North Carolina
1978-79 –Defensive Coordinator, United States Air Force Academy
1980 –Linebackers Coach, Texas Tech
1981-86–Head Football Coach, Wake Forest University (Compiled a 26-40 record in six seasons)
1988–Offensive Coordinator, University of South Carolina
2001-08–Head Football Coach, University of Virginia (Seven-year record is 56-44)

NFL Coaching Background
1987–Special Teams and Tight Ends Coach, Atlanta Falcons
1989-90–Linebackers Coach, New York Giants
1991–Defensive Coordinator, New York Giants
1992–Linebackers Coach, Cleveland Browns
1993-96–Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots
1997-99–Linebackers Coach, New York Jets
2000–Head Football Coach, New York Jets (Compiled a one-year record of 9-7)

Groh’s Year-by-Year Record at UVa