ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 28, 1996 TAG: 9602280112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
MEMO: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
Frank Beamer didn't waste any time filling the latest coaching vacancy on his Virginia Tech football staff.
One day after defensive line coach Todd Grantham resigned to go to Michigan State, the Hokies' head coach tapped Grantham's replacement Tuesday, hiring Charley Wiles away from Murray (Ky.) State.
Wiles, 31, has coached linebackers, defensive ends and running backs, and served as recruiting coordinator at Murray State the past six years. Wiles was an NCAA Division I-AA All-America offensive lineman for the Racers in 1986, Beamer's last season as head coach at the school before he came to Tech.
Like Grantham, Wiles got his coaching start under Beamer. The Deland, Fla., native served as a graduate assistant at Tech in 1987 and '88 before taking a full-time assistant's post at East Tennessee State in '89.
Beamer said his decision didn't take long because Wiles had interviewed with Tech for the vacancy created by Rod Sharpless' move to Rutgers in January. Tech hired former Virginia and VMI assistant Jim Cavanaugh to fill Sharpless' spot as outside linebackers coach.
``I've known Charley for a long, long time, and I think he can do a lot for this program,'' Beamer said. ``He and Todd have a lot of the same traits. Both are hard workers and dedicated to being good coaches and good recruiters.''
Tech has found itself recruiting more and more players from Florida in the past few years, and Wiles should give the Hokies an edge in that area.
``He's from Florida and he knows a lot of people down there,'' Beamer said. ``He can't help but help us down that way.''
Wiles also is no stranger to Tech's defensive philosophy. The Murray State staff came to Tech last year to study the Hokies' defense. The Racers instituted a similar scheme last season and improved from 110th in Division I-AA to sixth in total defense.
Beamer said he hopes his staff is set for 1996. He lost two assistant coaches - Grantham and Sharpless. Offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle was the runner-up for the Marshall head coach's post, and defensive backfield coach Lou West turned down offers from Baylor and Ohio State.
``I guess that's the price you pay for having a great year,'' said Beamer, whose '95 Hokies were 10-2, won the Sugar Bowl and finished ranked No.10 in the final Associated Press poll.
``You don't like losing guys,'' he said, ``but I reckon that's a problem you'd like having to deal with every year.''
LENGTH: Medium: 51 linesby CNB