Charley Wiles

Coaching Highlights

• Enters his 24th season coaching Virginia Tech’s defensive line, making him the second-longest tenured member of the Virginia Tech staff behind only associate head coach/defensive coordinator Bud Foster who joined Tech in 1987.  

• The productivity and consistency of Virginia Tech’s defensive front have been hallmarks of Tech’s vaunted “Lunch Pail Defense” over the years, thanks in large part to Wiles. 

• Dating back to 1996 when Wiles began his tenure coaching Tech’s defensive line, the Hokies have registered 856.0 sacks, the highest total of any team in the nation over that span. 

• The Hokies also own best mark of any FBS squad on third down since 1996, limiting opponents to a 31.5-percent conversion rate. Only Michigan (26.1%) ranked better in that department than Virginia Tech (26.2%) in 2017. 

• The ability of Wiles’ linemen to put pressure on the passer also helps explain why Virginia Tech has forced an FBS-best 380 interceptions during his tenure in Blacksburg. In 2017, Tech led all FBS squads, limiting opponents to a completion percentage of a mere 48.60 percent. 

• With Wiles helping Foster devise schemes to stop the run, Tech has permitted an average of 120.9 rushing ypg dating back to 1996 to rank seventh nationally. 

• Since he joined Tech as defensive line coach, only Alabama (16.3 ppg) and Ohio State (17.0 ppg) own stingier scoring defenses than Virginia Tech (18.1 ppg).

• T Ricky Walker earned All-ACC Second Team honors in 2018 and was an Honorable Mention pick in 2017. 

• T Tim Settle (ACC Second Team) was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. 

• Former pupils DT Woody Baron (Dallas), DE Ken Ekanem (Denver) and DT Nigel Williams (Buffalo) all signed as NFL free agents in 2017.

• Has coached five All-America selections – Cornell Brown (1995 & 1996), Corey Moore (1998 & 1999), John Engelberger (1999), Darryl Tapp (2005) and David Pugh (2001). 

• The most highly-decorated member of that group was Moore, who became the first-ever Tech defender to earn unanimous All-America honors in 1999. 

• Moore also earned the 1999 Bronco Nagurski Award as the college football’s defensive player of the year while also taking home the Lombardi Award as the national lineman of the year as the Hokies tied for the national lead with 58.0 sacks and advanced to the national championship game.  

• Under his tutelage, 26 different Virginia Tech defensive linemen have earned all-conference honors. In 2015, Luther Maddy (second team), Dadi Nicolas (third team) and Corey Marshall (honorable mention) continued Wiles’ trend of producing All-ACC performers as Tech extended its string of consecutive bowl berths to 23 straight years. 

• In 2014, his linemen helped contribute 26.0 sacks as the Hokies ranked second among Power Five squads with 48.0 sacks. 

• Behind second-team All-ACC pick, Derrick Hopkins, Tech ranked 10th nationally in rushing defense (110.9 ypg) and tied for eighth with 39.0 sacks in 2013 as all four starting linemen were represented on an All-ACC squad. 

• His front was part of a 2011 defense that ranked seventh in the country in scoring defense (17.6 ppg) and 10th in total defense (304.6 ypg). 

• Tech claimed the ACC title in 2010 as the Hokies led the nation with a +19 turnover differential (32 takes/13 gives) and ranked second among FBS squads with 23 INTs. 

• In 2006, Virginia Tech led the nation in scoring defense (11.0 ppg), total defense (219.5 ypg) and pass defense (128.2 ypg). 

• iles’ 2005 defensive line was led by first-team All-America Darryl Tapp who helped Tech lead the nation in total defense (247.6 ypg) and rank second in the nation in scoring defense (12.9 ppg).  

• Tech won the ACC title during its debut season in 2004 when its defense ranked second nationally in scoring defense (12.8 ppg) and came in fourth in both total defense (268.0 ypg) and pass defense (152.8 ypg). 

• The Sporting News ranked Tech’s 2001 defensive line coached by Wiles as the fourth-best in the nation.

• In 1999, Corey Moore was chosen the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive year as The Sporting News rated Tech’s defensive front the best in the college football as the Hokies rattled off an undefeated regular season behind the nation’s stingiest scoring defense (10.5 ppg). 

• Under Wiles’ guidance, one-time walk-on John Engelberger earned All-BIG EAST honors in both 1997 and 1998 before earning second team All-America honors from the AP in 1999. 

• Wiles embarked on his two-decade career coaching the defensive line at Tech in 1996 when his star pupil was All-America defensive end Cornell Brown. 

• As co-defensive coordinator at Murray State in 1995, he helped lead the Racers to an 11-0 regular-season mark and a berth in the Division I-AA playoffs. 

• Originally began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Hokies in 1987, Frank Beamer’s first season as Tech’s head coach. 

• Is one of three former Murray State players on the current Tech coaching staff, joining head coach Justin Fuente and associate head coach/defensive coordinator, Bud Foster.

Playing Highlights

• Wiles won Kodak Division I-AA All-America honors as an offensive lineman at Murray State in 1986 playing under Frank Beamer, who served as the Racers’ head coach.
• Is one of three former Murray State players on the current Tech coaching staff, joining head coach Justin Fuente and associate head coach/defensive coordinator, Bud Foster.

Prominent Pupils

DE Cornell Brown D6-1997 – Baltimore Ravens (1997-2004)
Super Bowl XXXV Champion

DE Chris Ellis D3-2008 – Buffalo Bills (2008-10); Steelers (2010-11) 

DT John Engelberger D2-2000 – San Francisco 49ers (2000-04); Broncos (2005-08)

DE Dadi Nicolas D5-2016 - Kansas City 
Posted 17.5 career sacks at Virginia Tech 

DT Tim Settle D5-2018 - Washington
All-ACC Second Team selection in 2017

DE Darryl Tapp D2-2006 – Seattle Seahawks, Eagles, Redskins, Lions, Saints (2006-17) 

DE Jason Worilds D2-2010 – Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-14)