Virginia Tech Hires Bill Teerlinck from the Buffalo Bills as Defensive Line Coach

Bill Teerlinck, Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech announced the hiring today of Buffalo Bills defensive line coach Bill Teerlinck (TEER-link) for the same position on the Hokies’ staff.

Teerlinck was Buffalo’s defensive line coach in 2018 and 2019 after serving one year as an assistant DL coach in 2017. This followed stints at Nevada, the Indianapolis Colts, and Illinois State.

Bill Teerlinck Coaching History

  • 2017-19: Buffalo Bills; DL coach (2018-19), assistant DL coach (2017)
  • 2014-16: Nevada; DL coach (2014-16) and co-defensive coordinator (2015-16)
  • 2007-2011: Indianapolis Colts; defensive assistant
  • 2005-06: Illinois State; DL coach, special teams assistant

Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente coached at Illinois State from 2001-2006, where Fuente and Teerlinck were on staff together for two years for the Redbirds.

In a hokiesports.com press release, Fuente said of the hire, “I believe Bill is one of the best in the business in terms of coaching the defensive line,” Fuente said. “He’s worked his way up the coaching ranks and has learned from some of the NFL’s most respected defensive coaches. Obviously, Bill and I have history working together and the timing was finally right for him to get back into the college game. He will be another solid addition to our staff and I’m excited for him to join us at Virginia Tech.” 

Teerlinck added, “I have the utmost respect for Coach Fuente and the staff he’s put together at Virginia Tech,” Teerlinck said. “I love teaching the game and helping players reach their full potential. I’ve always thought that if the right opportunity came along that I’d enjoy getting back into college football. Clearly, the chance to rejoin Coach Fuente at a place with a such a long winning tradition and defensive excellence like Virginia Tech was the perfect fit. I can’t wait to get my family to Blacksburg and get to work.” 

Bill Teerlinck is the son of long-time NFL coach and former NFL defensive end John Teerlinck. The elder Teerlinck played for the San Diego Chargers from 1974-77 before embarking on a coaching career that included six years as a college coach and 24 years coaching the defensive line for six different NFL teams.

The hire of Bill Teerlinck should boost not only the coaching acumen of the Virginia Tech staff, but its recruiting punch as well, with Teerlinck’s NFL experience and ties.

Bill Teerlinck Videos

  • For a 4-minute “Life on the Sidelines” video produced in 2018 by the Buffalo Bills about Bill Teerlinck, click here.
  • For a 6-minute “Meet the Football Coaches” video produced in 2013 by the Nevada Wolfpack about Bill Teerlinck, click here.

Bill Teerlinck 2019 Buffalo Bills Profile

Bill Teerlinck
(graphic via the Buffalo Bills)

Bill Teerlinck Hiring Announcement

For the full hokiesports.com press release on the hire of Bill Teerlinck, click here.

16 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Hope he is in for the long haul, he hasn’t stayed anywhere very long. Hope Fu can make him part of the family and he retires in the burg

    1. Why would he be in for the long haul? If he’s good a team will pay him more to leave and he’ll be a fool not to.

    2. He won’t be in it for the long haul. I feel that he may stay for 2-3 years, and he will do wonders to develop DTAPP as a coach and help recruit. Once he leaves, DTAPP will take over full time as DL coach which would be awesome!

  2. Good sign of the Day: the NFL’s annual award for the Best D-Line Coach is called the Teerlinck Award. Named after Bill’s dad, but here’s guessing the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Great hire!

  3. Hope he can go get the 6-4 270 pound DE who can run and get off blocks. Would be great to go head to head with Clemson, PSU, FSU, OSU, etc. for this type of guy!! Great hire…love it!!

    GO HOKIES!!!

  4. Great introduction videos, especially the ground crew video. Looked like playing football in Siberia. I believe his NFL experience will help with recruiting as well as his time at Nevada and Illinois State.

  5. This is a hire at a position on the staff that needs improving. Our defensive lineman are too small to compete with some of the teams that we play, and especially Clemson, if we ever play them for the ACC championship.

  6. Love it! Coaching staff settling in for an extended stay. Not all of them, obviously but key ones.

  7. I really hope he can be a top recruiter as we need a that as much as his coaching ability. The future looks good but time will tell

  8. More than excited for this hire. Give Fuente time, and we will be the cream of the crop in the Coastal.

Comments are closed.