Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1991 TAG: 9102130053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Welsh announced Tuesday that his new defensive coordinator will be 53-year-old Rick Lantz, a former Welsh assistant who for the past five years has served as defensive coordinator at Louisville.
The Cardinals ranked sixth in Division I-A in total defense this past season, a jump from 106th in 1985, the year before Lantz's arrival.
"I just felt it was time to change our defensive philosophy," Welsh said. "At the end of the regular season, I had conversations with Spaz [Spaziani] and some other coaches and felt it was in our best interests to do something."
Welsh said the move was motivated by a decision to switch from UVa's 3-4 defense to a 4-3 scheme featuring three linebackers.
"I thought, `Who's doing it and who knows it?' " Welsh related. "I've known Rick. There wasn't anybody else. I wanted Rick and was willing to wait until he made his decision."
Welsh said Spaziani was not fired and could have remained on the staff.
"The only thing that changed with Spaz was, he was not going to be the coordinator," Welsh said. "He decided to go somewhere else. There was going to be another defensive coordinator.
"I don't know if he's been offered a job and hasn't accepted or if he's waiting on some things. I know he's very interested in professional football."
Spaziani was not available for comment.
Lantz, a 1963 graduate of Central Connecticut State, coached under Welsh at Navy from 1971-76 and also has been an assistant at Miami, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Louisville. The Cardinals were 10-1-1 in 1990, when they allowed 12.8 points and 259.5 yards per game, sixth in both categories.
"It's a parallel move when you consider I'm coming as a defensive coordinator and I was a defensive coordinator where I was," Lantz said. "Coach Welsh made me an extremely attractive offer. Finances were a major ingredient. As they say, it was an offer I couldn't refuse."
Lantz coached the linebackers at Louisville, but no decision has been reached on his area of responsibility at UVa. Spaziani coached the secondary at UVa, but Phil Elmassian, who has coached the Cavaliers' linebackers since 1987, has experience in the secondary.
Welsh said he would give Lantz the option of "coming off the road" when the NCAA limits the number of assistants who can recruit. Lantz said that and other matters would be discussed when he comes to Charlottesville next week.
"I'm not a miracle worker; we're not miracle workers," Lantz said, "but, every job I've ever taken, the program has been at a low ebb. I'm extremely excited to be going to a team that's ready to challenge for championships. Our goal is to become a great defensive team as quickly as we can."
Welsh said Louisville had an "attacking" defense that he considers the coming trend in college football.
"On the snap of the ball, they move forward," he said. "We're not going to be sitting and reading.
"I didn't hire just a defensive coordinator. I want him to have a lot of input [on strategy]. He's going to coach the coaches because we have a new defense, new terminology. A lot of things are going to change."
It is the first shift in Welsh's staff since 1987, when Gary Tranquill was brought in as quarterback coach and Elmassian took over the linebackers.
"I don't think it's a drastic move," Welsh said. "The buck still stops at my desk. I don't think the losses at the end [four in the last five games] had anything to do with it. I've gone through those things before and not felt like I had to make a change."
by CNB