ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 19, 1996 TAG: 9602200008
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 SPORTS EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
THE EX-UVA AND VMI AIDE returns to Virginia after 14-year absence to lead Tech's outside linebackers.
Jim Cavanaugh, a college football coach for 24 years, is returning to the state of Virginia after a 14-year absence.
Cavanaugh, who played at William and Mary and coached at VMI and Virginia, has accepted an offer to coach the outside linebackers at Virginia Tech.
Cavanaugh, 47, has coached the wide receivers at North Carolina for the past eight seasons. Although the Tar Heels set a school record for passing yardage in 1995, he was not retained by coach Mack Brown.
Cavanaugh, originally from Queens, N.Y., recruited in Virginia for most of his tenure at North Carolina and Maryland, where he coached under Bobby Ross and then Joe Krivak from 1982-87.
Virginians recruited by Cavanaugh include record-setting North Carolina wide receiver Corey Holliday, who played in this year's Super Bowl for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and former All-ACC linebacker Tommy Thigpen.
Cavanaugh fills the vacancy on the Tech staff created when co-defensive coordinator Rod Sharpless went to Rutgers. Cavanaugh, despite his background on offense, was eager to move to the defensive side of the ball.
Cavanaugh, who had 117 receptions in his William and Mary career, has coached in 12 bowl games and had a hand in five conference championships. He served two tours at N.C. State, sandwiched around a three-year stint under Bob Thalman at VMI.
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Cavanaugh.by CNB