foster 2021
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Football

Two New Assistants Join VMI Football Staff

LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI head football coach Scott Wachenheim announced the additions of Jack Abercrombie and Jacob Menard to the Keydet coaching staff for the 2021 fall season.
 
Abercrombie assumes offensive line coaching responsibilities while Menard returns to the staff from a prior stint in 2019 and will serve as an offensive assistant.
 
Abercrombie comes to VMI from the University of Missouri where he spent the past season as an offensive graduate assistant coach and worked primarily with the offensive line. Prior to his stint in Columbia, Abercrombie spent two seasons at Mississippi State he was an offensive graduate assistant coach and worked with an offensive line that featured strong rushing attacks that finished in the top 25 in rushing offense in both 2018 and 2019. Abercrombie was part of MSU staffs that led the Bulldogs to appearances in the Outback and Music City Bowls.
 
Abercrombie served as offensive line coach at Gannon University in Erie, Pa. in 2016 and 2017 and helped lead an offensive rushing offense that ranked fourth nationally in Division II with a school record 3,061 rushing yards in 2017.
 
Abercrombie began his collegiate coaching career as the interim offensive line coach at his alma mater California (Pa.) during the spring of 2015. His primary responsibilities with the Vulcans were evaluating, teaching and mentoring the offensive line and tight end positions.
 
The Horsham, Pa. native moved to the University of Findlay (Ohio) in 2015 where he served as an assistant defensive line coach.
 
A four-year letter winner and two-time team captain during his collegiate playing days at California (Pa.), Abercrombie received the Division II Rimington Award presented to the premier centers in the FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA divisions. He earned preseason and postseason All-America accolades from D2Football.com and the Don Hansen Football Gazette. Abercrombie became a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award as a senior, an honor reserved for the best lineman in the country.  After graduation, Abercrombie received tryouts from the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).
 
Abercrombie graduated cum laude from California (Pa.) in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in middle level educational services. He was a member of the Dean's List, Athletics Director Honor Roll and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He later earned a Master of Science in Workforce Education Leadership from Mississippi State.
 
"I am very excited to add Jack Abercrombie to the VMI football staff as our offensive line coach," said Wachenheim. Jack played offensive line and has worked with some of the most respected coaches in our profession. He has experience at multiple levels coaching offensive line play, fits in well with our staff, and will be a valuable asset in recruiting due to his Pennsylvania ties."
 
Menard returns to the Institute after spending the last year as the defensive line coach at Hiram (Ohio) College. He led all activities for the defensive line unit and also recruited the I-90 corridor in Ohio as well as several Western states while also serving as JV defensive coordinator.
 
At VMI, Menard served as assistant linebackers coach under Tom Clark and also assisted with video, scout and special teams, pregame warmups, and on-campus game-day visits.
 
Menard spent two seasons at Shepherd University in Jefferson County, West Virginia was the assistant defensive line coach in 2018 and also served as interim defensive line coach during 2019 winter conditioning.
 
Menard graduated with a B.S. in Recreational and Sport Studies from Shepherd in 2018 and also attained a Masters of Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University of Irvine in 2019-2020.
 
"We are thankful to have Jacob Menard rejoining the Keydets," said Wachenheim. "Jacob will be working with Coach Cosh as an offensive assistant this time on post. Jacob has demonstrated a tremendous work ethic and a positive can-do attitude."
 
 
 
 
 
 
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