Hokies make big-time hire in new DL coach Bill Teerlinck

The Virginia Tech Hokies have two full-time staff openings, both on the defensive side of the football. Well, on Wednesday the Hokies announced the hiring of Bill Teerlinck, leaving Tech with just one opening left.

Make no mistake, this is a big-time hire for the Hokies. Before you read where Teerlinck has ties with head coach Justin Fuente and think this is another Brad Cornelson, please stop.

Teerlinck is legit.

He spent the last three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, beginning in 2017 as an assistant defensive line coach Sean McDermott. He was promoted to defensive line coach in 2018 and remained in that capacity for the last two seasons. Teerlinck helped in the development of several talented defensive linemen including Ed Oliver, Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips, among others.

Teerlinck began his coaching career at Illinois State with Fuente. He spent two years there as the defensive line coach. In 2007, he moved on to the Indianapolis Colts where he would spend the next five seasons as a defensive assistant, working for Tony Dungy at one time. He coached the likes of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis during his time with the Colts.

From there, Teerlinck returned to the college game at Nevada where he would coach the defensive line from 2012-2014, before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2015. After five years at Nevada, Teerlinck joined McDermott’s Buffalo staff in 2017.

Give credit to Fuente on this hire. He swung for the fences on this move and made not only a splashy hire for the hungry fans who’ve been disappointed since the retirement of Bud Foster, but also a major hire in developing Tech’s young defensive line. Teerlinck, 41, is also incredibly energetic and will bring some juice to the recruiting trail, too.

Fuente had this to say about Virginia Tech’s newest assistant coach, per Hokie Sports.

I believe Bill is one of the best in the business in terms of coaching the defensive line. 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.

This is also a huge addition for new defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton. Fuente and Hamilton have made it a point, beginning with this recruiting class, to get bigger up front on the defensive line. Teerlinck’s addition, along with the December hiring of Hokie great, Darryl Tapp, make the defensive line unit a fun group to watch moving forward.

Officially, Teerlinck and Tapp are going to be co-defensive line coaches. I see no issue with this. Tapp is pretty new to the coaching ranks and working with Teerlinck will only make him better. Tapp, one of the best defensive players ever at Virginia Tech, was pumped about this hire, too.

Teerlinck is excited for his new challenge at Virginia Tech.

I have the utmost respect for Coach Fuente and the staff he’s put together at Virginia Tech. 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.

Teerlinck also has coaching in his blood. His father, John, was a defensive line coach in the NFL for 24 years, last coaching in 2012 with the Colts.

The Hokies are already making some noise in Texas on the recruiting trail. The addition of Teerlinck and his NFL coaching experience and Tapp with his NFL playing career, should only help. With several big-time in-state prospects along the defensive line in the class of 2021, the combination of Teerlinck and Tapp comes at the ideal time.

Let’s welcome Coach Teerlinck and his family to Blacksburg.