LEXINGTON, Va. - VMI head football coach Cal McCombs filled the last vacancies on his coaching staff by naming Will McCombs offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Chris Malone offensive line coach.
Will McCombs, who served as VMI's offensive line coach the past five seasons, replaces Jeff Durden who was named offensive coordinator at James Madison last week. Malone comes to the Institute after serving as offensive line coach at the University of Massachusetts the past three years.
"Having Will as offensive coordinator is a good way to keep continuity in our offense," said Cal McCombs. "He's been a big part of our offense the past five years and knows the direction we want to go. He's been in our system and helped develop our offensive scheme, and with seven starters coming back to that side of the ball, it was important to have continuity."
Under Will McCombs, the Keydet offensive line improved both passing and rushing numbers, especially the past two seasons when the team set new school records for most points in a season. VMI broke a seven-year mark with 314 points in 2002, then eclipsed that with 359 points last fall. VMI's rushing totals also improved significantly the past two seasons, up from 68.2 yards per game in 2001 to 163.0 yards in 2002, and 181.0 yards in 2003. VMI won six games in each of the past two seasons, the most two-year total wins for the football program since 1976-77.
Will McCombs, son of the VMI head coach, was an original hire on the Cal McCombs staff in 1999, and came to the Institute from the Citadel where he spent four years on the Bulldog staff coaching wide receivers in 1998 and tight ends the previous three years. He is a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy where he earned two letters as an offensive lineman and played in three consecutive Liberty Bowls (1990, 1991, and 1992). He began his coaching career at Air Force Academy Prep the fall after his graduation.
McCombs, 33, and wife Emilie have one daughter, Emilie Bennent, who will turn one-year old on March 12.
Malone coached UMass tight ends in 2001, his first year on the Amherst campus, then handled offensive line responsibilities the past two seasons. He coached an All-American and All-Atlantic 10 selection while serving as line coach.
Malone has strong coaching ties to the Commonwealth of Virginia and went to UMass after serving two years as a graduate assistant coach at Virginia Tech. He worked as an assistant line coach with the Hokies and assisted with on-campus recruiting, film breakdown, and scouting, as well as football operations and team travel. During his coaching tenure at Tech, the Hokies went 22-2, with the team winning the Big East Championship and advancing to the national title game in 1999, and winning the Gator Bowl in 2000.
Malone also spent one-year at Fork Union under head coach John Shuman (VMI' 80), coaching offensive and defensive lines and directing the strength and conditioning program.
Malone earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Virginia Tech in 1996, then earned a masters's degree in consumer economics in 1998. He was a four-year starter at Virginia Tech at left guard and earned all-Big East honors as a senior in 1995. Malone played on the 1995 Big East Title team, the 1995 Sugar Bowl champion squad, and the 1993 Independence Bowl title team. The Hokies posted a 29-17-1 record during Malone's four years as a player.
"We're excited about having a coach the caliber of Chris Malone coming on board," said Cal McCombs." He was a big part of UMass football and their playoff program. He comes to VMI highly recommended."
Malone joins the staff immediately as he and his wife, Susan, relocate to the Lexington area.
Some information courtesy of UMass Sports Information.
TRANSACTIONS
College Football
VMI - Named Will McCombs offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Named Chris Malone offensive line coach.
