JC Price Added To Virginia Tech Coaching Staff

By: Chris Coleman | Lead Analyst and Columnist
JC Price, Virginia Tech
JC Price will be wearing the maroon and orange of Virginia Tech the next time he coaches in Lane Stadium. (Ivan Morozov)

Former Virginia Tech All-American defensive tackle JC Price has been added to the coaching staff as Co-Defensive Line Coach and Defensive Recruiting Coordinator.  Justin Fuente also announced that Running Backs Coach Adam Lechtenberg would serve as Offensive Recruiting Coordinator, while Cornerbacks Coach Ryan Smith would also become Passing Game Coordinator of the defense.

“First and foremost, we’re excited to welcome J.C. and his family back to Blacksburg,” Fuente said. “J.C. played an integral role in establishing Tech’s winning tradition and helping the Hokies earn a place on the national stage. We’re not only adding a coach who owns nearly two decades of coaching experience, but J.C. also brings another talented recruiter to our ranks. He possesses a long history of strong relationships with high school coaches across Virginia, particularly in the 757, Richmond and Northern Virginia. He’ll be a great fit with the rest of our staff, and I know our players will respect what J.C. has accomplished both as a player and a coach.” 

Price coached the defensive line at Marshall from 2012 through 2020.  In 2018, he was elevated to Assistant Head Coach, and he was Co-Defensive Coordinator in 2019.  He was also Conference USA Recruiter of the Year in 2015.

“I’m grateful to Coach Fuente and Coach Hamilton for the opportunity to coach at a place I love so much,” Price said. “My wife and I are both proud Virginia Tech alums, so the chance to bring our family back to Blacksburg is an incredible blessing. I’m looking forward to working with the entire staff that Coach Fuente has assembled. And rest assured, it’s going to be my distinct pleasure to extol the virtues of Virginia Tech on the recruiting trail. I’ll do everything I can to bring the right kind of young men into our program. Go Hokies!” 

Fuente also elaborated on his plans for Price and Lechtenberg as recruiting coordinators for their respective sides of the ball.

“Both Adam and J.C. possess the acumen it takes to not only evaluate talent, but to also forge the relationships with players, coaches and families that it takes to sustain long-term success in recruiting,” Fuente said. “Recruiting remains a team effort between the coaching and personnel staffs. With that said, I thought it was important to recognize the abilities that Adam and J.C. in the recruiting arena, while also elevating their profile and providing additional structure to our process. 
 
“Adam will coordinate with the rest of the offensive coaches on the evaluation and recruitment of offensive players, while J.C. will handle similar duties with the defensive staff,” he continued. “Certainly there will be a continued focus on the state of Virginia, as well as the rest of our regional footprint. And we’re certainly willing to explore other areas of the country, as well. J.C.’s longstanding ties to the 757 region and background as an NFL draftee clearly make him a great fit for this role. Adam has really proven his merit in the recruiting space on the offensive side and has been very tenacious in his pursuit of players from across the country who fit our program.”  

After coaching the cornerbacks for one season, Justin Fuente feels that Ryan Smith is ready for more responsibility.

“Ryan has definitely earned more responsibility with our staff and he continues to display why he has such a bright football future,” Fuente commented. “Certainly we all faced many challenges in 2020, but every time we needed to lean even harder on Ryan last season, he was ready for the moment and rose to the occasion. Our cornerback room and our team improved under his guidance and I’m confident he’ll continue to make a significant impact for us as a coach and a recruiter going forward.” 

Click here for the full press release from Virginia Tech.

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  2. Welcome back J.C thanks for the tip with my girl Beth before the 95 sugar bowl. Always a hokie. Kick some butt

  5. Welcome back home J.C., Jenny and family. J.C. has the determination, experience, and intestinal fortitude to take the HOKIES defensive line to another level. Glad to see Coach Fuente and Coach Hamilton bring J.C. back to HOKIE football. I was hoping this J.C.’s hire would happen when I heard Darryl was going to SF. Great things happen!

  7. Fantastic, JC was the first person I thought of when they made the Tapp to the pros…Go Hokies!!!

  12. ‘LET’S GO!!!!!” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “HOKIES!!!” Great addition to the program!

  14. Do many remember the sack J C made on the Miami quarterback in 1995 when they had driven to about the 25 with about a minute left in a 13-7 game? Believe it was second down and resulted in a ten yard loss. We were 0-2 with losses to Boston College and Cincinnati and had never beaten Miami. We held on and won after a fourth down in competition. The sack took the wind out of their sales and we went on to win ten straight including beating Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

    1. Yes-Sir I was there too and remember the play.. It changed the season and was the 1st time we every beat Miami.. New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl/Texas was fun time too.

      Glad JC is “HOME” if I recall correctly, his wife is also a HOKIE…

      1. His wife, Jenny Root, was one of the All Time great WBB players in the Metro Conference days!

  15. Great move by Fuente. Love having former players as coaches especially those who have tasted success. Welcome home!!

  17. Pat on my back – I called it a few weeks ago when the Tapp to SF rumors started and Marshall let Doc go…
    Glad he is here!
    D Hop was my next pull!
    Go Hokies!

    1. Not sure why Marshall let Doc go, but that let JC fall into our hands just when we needed him. Good to have JC home.

      GO HOKIES!!!

  22. Great news, and a great hire. We were lucky to get JC. Once again, circumstances were fortuitous. And, his designation as Defensive Recruiting Coordinator is also a great decision.

      1. +1000…
        Love that old pic of him with a victory cigar! Maybe that was the Miami win but I can’t remember. He was a great one!

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