Mike London is Exactly What Virginia Football Needs

The recent hire of Mike London as the University of Virginia's new football coach was not a flashy pickup of a football guru or a nationally-known figure. Instead, it was exactly what UVA needed.

As a graduate of both Virginia and Virginia Football, I received a lot of questions from friends and family about Mike London, and knowing the program and the coach very well, I almost succumbed to the same questions about the lack of star power in the hire. But taking a step back to analyze the program's needs, it quickly becomes apparent that London is the perfect fit.

First, London is not widely renowned for his knowledge or pedigree. Al Groh returned to his alma mater with a professional background from the School of Parcells. As a result, he took a very active role in all coaching activities. The resulting micromanagement was evident in staff turnover and game management.

London has no ego and is a tireless worker who has proven himself in under-the-radar capacities in the NFL and as a FCS champion. London's experience as a successful head coach means he can manage a staff and let people do what they're good at doing. His personality is the kind Virginia needs to rebuild. 

Second, and most importantly, London is not nationally known. While in recruiting circles this might seem like a drawback, in UVA's case it's a huge asset. Groh's recruiting strategy overreached with national goals, producing results in the short term with top 10 recruiting classes in the first few years. This meant losing any foothold in the state of Virginia, which turns out individual and team talent every year (see: Percy Harvin, Virginia Tech). Until Virginia retakes some standing in its own state, it will never know ACC success.

Enter Mike London, who won the 2008 FCS Championship with a roster featuring 30 players from Virginia, and most of the rest coming from mid-Atlantic states. Granted, FCS talent is not FBS talent, but recruiting is about relationships, and having established a name for himself in recruiting hotbeds like northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, London is making the right moves to make UVA an option for in-state recruits. London is even moving the spring game outside Charlottesville, a great example of his willingness to do the work necessary for picking up big-name recruits.

Mike London's hire was not the big-name hire that automatically produces "Wows" from fans and boosters. However, Virginia's recent performances have proven that it needs more than just a big name: they need the hard work necessary to rebuild a program.

Mike London has the potential to deliver.