Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 13 No. 5 | May 2021

inside.hokiesports.com 9 To take the team to the next level, we have to be competitive in not only the Atlantic Coast Conference but against our non-conference opponents as well. Our team is poised to return to the days of consistent appearances in the ACC Championship game, but to ensure that next step, we need to increase our support staff. Additional quality control coaches, video and player analysts, and graduate assistants can help get us back to the top of the ACC and competing for championships. • Recruiting Specialists: We hope to add recruiting staff members who can showcase how special this place is and who are dedicated to building relationships with our recruits. This means staying in constant communication, hosting during home football games, and being available to answer questions or address concerns that prospective players and their families may have. • Player Development: We look to become one of the best developmental programs in the country, turning walk-ons into NFL players. To do that, we need to add staff dedicated to analyzing our players through film and ensuring that we have quality control on both offense and defense. • Quality Control: These staff members are part of our coaching farm system. Currently, we have two quality control coaches on our staff and would like to double that number. They are a pool of young coaches who are starting out and gaining experience before advancing to full-time coaching positions. Many of these aspiring coaches are former Virginia Tech players who wish to continue working with the program and believe in how we are trying to build something special in Blacksburg. Off the field, our staff is dedicated to building the complete student- athlete. Talent on the field is certainly important, but only a small percentage of college football players will go on to compete at the next level. With that in mind, it is important to provide our student-athletes with the tools they will need to move into the real world after their playing days have ended. This can be accomplished by adding student-athlete development and academic advising staff who are solely dedicated to the football program. We are committed to creating a complete student-athlete program that will develop our players both academically and athletically. You can be part of creating the champions of today to be the leaders for tomorrow by joining the Reach for Excellence campaign. With your help, we can provide the resources needed to shape our athletes throughout their careers in Blacksburg. whv Warm Hearth Village • Living and Learning Together heart G O O D F O R and soul the retire.org • (540) 552-9176 Our 220-acre campus offers room to roam amidst lush woodlands as well as opportunities to connect socially and for recreation. Choose Warm Hearth Village, where YOU create a retirement that’s good for your heart and soul. Pierson Prioleau Caleb Gelsomino Matt Kardulis SU PPORT STAFF FOOTBALL ENHANCEMENT