Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 12, 1994 TAG: 9401120041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Former Virginia and current Cleveland Browns assistant coach Gary Tranquill has drawn Virginia Tech's interest as the Hokies look to replace departing offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle.
Two sources close to the program said Tuesday that Tech is expected to pursue Tranquill, who has spent the past three years as the Browns' quarterbacks coach. Tranquill was UVa's quarterbacks coach from 1987-90, the same years current Tech defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian was a Cavaliers assistant.
Neither Tranquill nor Frank Beamer, Tech's head coach, could be reached for comment Tuesday.
San Diego Chargers assistant Ralph Friedgen said Tuesday he could become involved in the search if Friedgen is not promoted to offensive coordinator with the Chargers.
Friedgen, a former Georgia Tech assistant, has been San Diego's running game coordinator under head coach Bobby Ross. He had shared offensive play-calling duties with passing game coordinator Jack Reilly, but Reilly resigned after the 1993 season. Friedgen said Ross may decide on a single coordinator sometime this week.
Friedgen and Beamer had dinner Sunday night in Anaheim, Calif., at the college coaches' convention. Beamer said the Tech vacancy "wasn't part of the conversation," but Friedgen said it was discussed, at least briefly.
"If that [the Chargers' search for an offensive coordinator] didn't work out, I would be very interested in [the Tech job]," said Friedgen, a close friend and business partner of Beamer. "He knows that.
"As of now, there's no involvement. [But] I would love to work for Coach Beamer."
At Virginia, Tranquill coached Scott Secules and Shawn Moore - both of whom have NFL jobs. UVa's offense set an ACC record by scoring 50 or more points in four games in 1990.
Friedgen has worked for Beamer's mentor, Ross, since 1973. He was Ross' offensive coordinator at Maryland from 1982-86 and at Georgia Tech from 1987-91, working with quarterbacks such as Georgia Tech's Shawn Jones and Maryland's Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, Stan Gelbaugh and Dan Henning.
Tranquill was hired as part of Browns coach Bill Belichick's first staff in 1991. Friedgen accompanied Ross to San Diego when Ross was hired in 1992.
by CNB