Coaching Highlights
• Talented eight-year NFL coaching veteran Bill Teerlinck was reunited with Justin Fuente in the collegiate ranks as Virginia Tech’s defensive line coach in 2020 and begins his second season with the Hokies in 2021.
• The relationship between Fuente and Teerlinck dates back to 2005-06 when the duo both served as assistant coaches on Denver Johnson’s staff at Illinois State.
• Teerlinck’s addition to the Tech staff paid immediate dividends in 2020 as DE Amare’ Barno made the transition from linebacker during fall camp. Barno finished the season with 16.0 TFL to lead the ACC and rank third among all Power Five players. He also tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks, while adding 43 tackles (28 solo).
• Veteran performers DT Jarrod Hewitt (8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks) and DE Justus Reed (9.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks) also excelled under Teerlinck in 2020.
• Teerlinck came to Tech after helping lead a Buffalo defense that was simply stifling in 2019 as the Bills ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in seven key defensive categories: scoring defense (2nd - 16.2 ppg), total defense (3rd - 298.3 ypg), pass defense (4th - 195.2 ypg), first downs allowed (6th - 262), third-down pct. (7th - 35.8), rushing defense (10th - 103.1 ypg) and sacks (10th - 44.0).
• Worked under the direction of head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier in Buffalo, a duo with a long track record of producing opportunistic defenses.
• Buffalo’s defensive front under Teerlinck’s tutelage was arguably one of the NFL’s toughest units as DE Jerry Hughes produced 15.5 sacks over the past three seasons.
• DT Jordan Phillips enjoyed the best season of his six-year NFL tenure under Teerlinck in 2019, racking up a career-high 9.5 sacks.
• Rookie DT Ed Oliver flourished under Teerlinck’s guidance in 2019, racking up 5.0 sacks in his initial pro season.
• Teerlinck worked alongside longtime NFL defensive line coach Mike Waufle in 2017 and assumed sole jurisdiction of Buffalo’s defensive line unit following Waufle’s retirement after the 2017 season.
• Prior to returning to the NFL ranks, Teerlinck spent four seasons at the University of Nevada (2012-14), serving as co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach for his final two campaigns.
• During his tenure with the Wolf Pack, Brock Hekking earned All-Mountain West first-team honors after leading the league with 9.0 sacks in 2013.
• He joins Justin Hamilton and J.C. Price as other members of Tech’s current defensive staff who own previous collegiate experience as a defensive coordinator.
• The son of longtime NFL defensive line coach the late John Teerlinck, the younger Teerlinck began his NFL career coaching career with the Indianapolis Colts as a defensive assistant (2007-11).
• Working with the Colts’ defensive front, DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis combined for four Pro Bowl berths as Teerlinck also assisted the Colts on special teams during his time in Indianapolis.
• During his tenure in Indianapolis, the Colts won the AFC title and earned a berth in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season under head coach Jim Caldwell.
• He began his career with the Colts working for Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, who earned a reputation as one of the NFL’s brightest defensive coordinators before ascending to the head coaching ranks.
• Teerlinck developed his passion for the game watching his father, who was a fifth-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers as a defensive tackle in 1974.
• The elder Teerlinck enjoyed a 23-year NFL coaching career as his teams registered a 230-137-1 regular season record. In the process, he also earned three Super Bowl rings with Denver (XXXII, XXXIII) and Indianapolis (XLI).
• A collegiate linebacker at NCAA Division II Chadron State in Nebraska, the younger Teerlinck began his coaching career at Illinois State in 2005.
Prominent Pupils
DE DWIGHT FREENEY D1-2002 – Indianapolis
Seven-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time All-Pro pick, Super Bowl XLI champion. Accumulated 46.0 sacks and 16 FFs during Teerlinck’s tenure with Colts (2007-11).
DE JERRY HUGHES D1-2010 – Indianapolis
Seven-time Pro Bowl, three-time All-Pro selection. Recorded 125 tackles, 16.5 sacks & four FFs in five seasons working with Teerlinck.
DE ROBERT MATHIS D5-2003 – Indianapolis
Five-time Pro Bowl pick, one-time All-Pro accumulated 48.5 sacks, 18 FFs, eight FRs and 224 tackles in five seasons with Teerlinck in Indianapolis.
DT JORDAN PHILLIPS D1-2015 – Miami
Led Buffalo with a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2019, including 3.0 sacks at Tennessee (10/6/19).
DT ED OLIVER D1-2019 – Buffalo
Had 43 tackles, 5.0 sacks and a FF as rookie in 2019.
DT JARROD HEWITT FA-2021 – Seattle
Virginia Tech Posted 8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks under Teerlinck in 2020.
DE JUSTUS REED FA-2021 – Tennessee
Virginia Tech Had 9.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks and seven QB hurries in 2020.
Playing Highlights
• Led all NCAA Division II players with 13.0 sacks (-94.0 yards) at Chadron State as a linebacker in 2002.
• Played in 40 games in four seasons at Chadron State, finishing his career with 15.5 sacks, five FFs, four FRs, five INTs and 123 tackles (90 solo).
• Worked at both linebacker and safety during his career, in addition to serving as a key special teams contributor.
• Talented eight-year NFL coaching veteran Bill Teerlinck was reunited with Justin Fuente in the collegiate ranks as Virginia Tech’s defensive line coach in 2020 and begins his second season with the Hokies in 2021.
• The relationship between Fuente and Teerlinck dates back to 2005-06 when the duo both served as assistant coaches on Denver Johnson’s staff at Illinois State.
• Teerlinck’s addition to the Tech staff paid immediate dividends in 2020 as DE Amare’ Barno made the transition from linebacker during fall camp. Barno finished the season with 16.0 TFL to lead the ACC and rank third among all Power Five players. He also tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks, while adding 43 tackles (28 solo).
• Veteran performers DT Jarrod Hewitt (8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks) and DE Justus Reed (9.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks) also excelled under Teerlinck in 2020.
• Teerlinck came to Tech after helping lead a Buffalo defense that was simply stifling in 2019 as the Bills ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in seven key defensive categories: scoring defense (2nd - 16.2 ppg), total defense (3rd - 298.3 ypg), pass defense (4th - 195.2 ypg), first downs allowed (6th - 262), third-down pct. (7th - 35.8), rushing defense (10th - 103.1 ypg) and sacks (10th - 44.0).
• Worked under the direction of head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier in Buffalo, a duo with a long track record of producing opportunistic defenses.
• Buffalo’s defensive front under Teerlinck’s tutelage was arguably one of the NFL’s toughest units as DE Jerry Hughes produced 15.5 sacks over the past three seasons.
• DT Jordan Phillips enjoyed the best season of his six-year NFL tenure under Teerlinck in 2019, racking up a career-high 9.5 sacks.
• Rookie DT Ed Oliver flourished under Teerlinck’s guidance in 2019, racking up 5.0 sacks in his initial pro season.
• Teerlinck worked alongside longtime NFL defensive line coach Mike Waufle in 2017 and assumed sole jurisdiction of Buffalo’s defensive line unit following Waufle’s retirement after the 2017 season.
• Prior to returning to the NFL ranks, Teerlinck spent four seasons at the University of Nevada (2012-14), serving as co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach for his final two campaigns.
• During his tenure with the Wolf Pack, Brock Hekking earned All-Mountain West first-team honors after leading the league with 9.0 sacks in 2013.
• He joins Justin Hamilton and J.C. Price as other members of Tech’s current defensive staff who own previous collegiate experience as a defensive coordinator.
• The son of longtime NFL defensive line coach the late John Teerlinck, the younger Teerlinck began his NFL career coaching career with the Indianapolis Colts as a defensive assistant (2007-11).
• Working with the Colts’ defensive front, DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis combined for four Pro Bowl berths as Teerlinck also assisted the Colts on special teams during his time in Indianapolis.
• During his tenure in Indianapolis, the Colts won the AFC title and earned a berth in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season under head coach Jim Caldwell.
• He began his career with the Colts working for Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, who earned a reputation as one of the NFL’s brightest defensive coordinators before ascending to the head coaching ranks.
• Teerlinck developed his passion for the game watching his father, who was a fifth-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers as a defensive tackle in 1974.
• The elder Teerlinck enjoyed a 23-year NFL coaching career as his teams registered a 230-137-1 regular season record. In the process, he also earned three Super Bowl rings with Denver (XXXII, XXXIII) and Indianapolis (XLI).
• A collegiate linebacker at NCAA Division II Chadron State in Nebraska, the younger Teerlinck began his coaching career at Illinois State in 2005.
Prominent Pupils
DE DWIGHT FREENEY D1-2002 – Indianapolis
Seven-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time All-Pro pick, Super Bowl XLI champion. Accumulated 46.0 sacks and 16 FFs during Teerlinck’s tenure with Colts (2007-11).
DE JERRY HUGHES D1-2010 – Indianapolis
Seven-time Pro Bowl, three-time All-Pro selection. Recorded 125 tackles, 16.5 sacks & four FFs in five seasons working with Teerlinck.
DE ROBERT MATHIS D5-2003 – Indianapolis
Five-time Pro Bowl pick, one-time All-Pro accumulated 48.5 sacks, 18 FFs, eight FRs and 224 tackles in five seasons with Teerlinck in Indianapolis.
DT JORDAN PHILLIPS D1-2015 – Miami
Led Buffalo with a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2019, including 3.0 sacks at Tennessee (10/6/19).
DT ED OLIVER D1-2019 – Buffalo
Had 43 tackles, 5.0 sacks and a FF as rookie in 2019.
DT JARROD HEWITT FA-2021 – Seattle
Virginia Tech Posted 8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks under Teerlinck in 2020.
DE JUSTUS REED FA-2021 – Tennessee
Virginia Tech Had 9.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks and seven QB hurries in 2020.
Playing Highlights
• Led all NCAA Division II players with 13.0 sacks (-94.0 yards) at Chadron State as a linebacker in 2002.
• Played in 40 games in four seasons at Chadron State, finishing his career with 15.5 sacks, five FFs, four FRs, five INTs and 123 tackles (90 solo).
• Worked at both linebacker and safety during his career, in addition to serving as a key special teams contributor.