Vikings QB coach Kevin Rogers OC candidate at Virginia

One day after finishing a season where he helped the Minnesota Vikings get to the NFC championship game, while acting as overseer for future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, Kevin Rogers hadn’t had much time to consider his future. He certainly hasn’t thought much about Virginia’s vacant offensive-coordinator position — mainly because U.Va. hasn’t contacted him about the job. Rogers, 58, is content to take his time after wrapping up his fourth season as Minnesota’s quarterbacks coach. “I haven’t heard anything from U.Va.,” Rogers said Monday afternoon. Still, the question remains — if U.Va. coach Mike London, a Bethel High graduate, reached out to Rogers, would he listen? “I don’t know,” said Rogers, who has also been a speculative candidate for Syracuse’s vacant offensive-coordinator job, but he added he hasn’t heard anything from Orange coach Doug Marrone either. “It’s all hypothetical.” – Daily Press

Mike London gets five year deal at Virginia

Virginia coach Mike London received a five-year contract worth $1.7 million per season and will receive a $2 million allotment to pay assistant coaches. London, a former Cavaliers assistant who spent two seasons coaching Richmond, was assured that the resources for a successful program were in place during conversations Sunday, the day after the Spiders’ season concluded with a division I-AA quarterfinal loss to Appalachian State. – Washington Post

Virginia to Hire Mike London

Virginia will name Mike London as its next football coach, ACCSports.com has learned. An announcement is expected at a Monday press conference. London, 49, has spent the past two seasons as the head coach at Richmond. He compiled a 24-5 record there and led the Spiders the 2008 FCS national title. London has numerous ties to UVa, having previously coached in Charlottesville a total of six years during two stints (2001-2004 and 2006-07). Just as important as London’s ties to Charlottesville are his recruiting connections within the state. He is a graduate of Hampson’s Bethel High, in the talent-rich Tidewater region and went on to play defensive back at Richmond. London served as the Cavaliers’ recruiting coordinator during his first coaching stint at UVa. – ACC Sports

Al Groh Out, Mike London In at Virginia?

Virginia hasn’t won a bowl game since 2005 and hasn’t beaten Virginia Tech since 2003. Since his first season at Virginia in 2001, Groh’s teams are 1-7 against Tech. If there are any benchmarks that usually allow coaches on the hot seat to keep their jobs, they are bowl wins and rivalry game wins. Groh’s track record in both regards is not good. Although Groh has had five winning seasons in eight years at Virginia, four of those were from 2002-05. This year is set to be his second losing campaign in a row and third in the past four years. I don’t think many coaches get more leash than that. Going into this year, Groh’s record at Virginia was 56-44; fortunately for him, even a winless season this year will keep his record at .500. So, yes, this should be Groh’s last year in Charlottesville. But, I believe Virginia needs to wait until after the season to can its coach. I simply don’t think it would do this team any good to fire him now and I don’t think there is anyone better out there to take the team for the rest of 2009. You can’t promote from within — offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon has not shown any reason to be given the reins, and Groh is the defensive coordinator. Special teams coach Ron Prince is the likeliest to get a promotion if Groh is fired midyear — as he has head coaching experience from his days at Kansas State — but I think Virginia needs to have a longer term plan in mind. That plan starts with a phone call to the 804, to Richmond coach and former Virginia defensive coordinator, Mike London. “Hey, Mike, how are things at Richmond? I mean, I know you went 13-3 and won the FCS championship during your first year there and you’re already 3-0 this year, including a win against Duke. I know you played at Richmond, you’re a hero there, and you just got a two-year extension through 2014. But, hey, you wanna come back?” – Cavalier Daily

Al Groh on Short Leash at Virginia

Now here comes TCU, which despite what we’ve seen from Boise State and BYU, could be the best non-BCS team. This game is a beatdown if there ever was one, right? These are also the type of games Groh’s teams have won in the past, including upsets of West Virginia (2002), Virginia Tech (2003), Florida State (2005) and Georgia Tech (2008). Lose Saturday, and the Cavs may not win again until October—and by that time, Richmond coach and former UVa defensive coordinator Mike London, will be the clear favorite for the job. – Sporting News