Al Groh, the former head coach of the University of Virginia college football team
Al Groh |
In the 2007 Virginia Cavaliers preseason, Groh was listed among the five worst coaches in college football by Sports Illustrated columnist Stewart Mandel.
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While Groh acknowledged that the year would be a rebuilding experience and a slow start upset some fans, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage stated that, "Al will be our head coach" through at least the 2007 season.
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A two-sport athlete, Groh also lettered on defense for the Cavalier lacrosse team.
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During Groh's second year as head coach, Virginia amassed a 9–5 record with a schedule ranked the 11th toughest in the nation by Jeff Sagarin of USA Today, and Groh was voted the ACC Coach of the Year.
In March 2011, United States Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller recommended Groh to President Obama to fill a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.
The move was spectacularly successful, as Groh not only hit .290 with 32 doubles and 170 hits, but set a new league record with 34 double plays, breaking Lave Cross' 1899 mark of 32; he also finished within a fraction of a point of Bobby Byrne for the lead in fielding average at .969.