BLACKSBURG – Head coach Justin Fuente announced Tuesday that he is adding former Tech defensive tackle J.C. Price to his staff as co-defensive line coach/defensive recruiting coordinator.
A third-team All-America selection for the Hokies as a senior in 1995, Price was a four-year starter who captained Tech’s 1995 Big East championship team that defeated Texas in the Sugar Bowl. He returns to his alma mater after spending the past nine seasons at Marshall University, most recently as co-defensive coordinator (2019-20).
Fuente also announced on Tuesday that Adam Lechtenberg is adding offensive recruiting coordinator to his duties as running backs coach. In addition, Fuente confirmed that cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith will add passing game coordinator to his duties on the defensive side of the ball, continuing his work with defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton in developing defensive game plans and schemes.
The entire coaching staff will continue working in conjunction with director of player personnel Mark Diethorn and his staff to identify and recruit student-athletes who will excel at Virginia Tech and help win football games.
“First and foremost, we’re excited to welcome J.C. and his family back to Blacksburg,” Fuente said. “J.C. played an integral role in establishing Tech’s winning tradition and helping the Hokies earn a place on the national stage. We’re not only adding a coach who owns nearly two decades of coaching experience, but J.C. also brings another talented recruiter to our ranks.
“He possesses a long history of strong relationships with high school coaches across Virginia, particularly in the 757, Richmond and Northern Virginia,” the head Hokie said. “He’ll be a great fit with the rest of our staff, and I know our players will respect what J.C. has accomplished both as a player and a coach.”
“I’m grateful to Coach Fuente and Coach Hamilton for the opportunity to coach at a place I love so much,” Price said. “My wife and I are both proud Virginia Tech alums, so the chance to bring our family back to Blacksburg is an incredible blessing.
“I’m looking forward to working with the entire staff that Coach Fuente has assembled,” Price said. “And rest assured, it’s going to be my distinct pleasure to extol the virtues of Virginia Tech on the recruiting trail. I’ll do everything I can to bring the right kind of young men into our program. Go Hokies!”
Price is married to the former Jenny Root, who was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. A standout for the women’s basketball program, her 1,582 career points still rank as the fifth-highest total in Hokies’ history.
Price is one of seven former Virginia Tech players currently serving in full-time roles on Coach Fuente’s staff. He joins Justin Hamilton (defensive coordinator/safeties) and Jack Tyler (linebackers) on the coaching staff. Other former Tech student-athletes associated with the program include Pierson Prioleau (director of player development – defense), Corey Fuller (assistant director of player personnel), Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (assistant director of player personnel) and Ryan Shuman (director of football strength & conditioning).