Brian Mitchell

Coaching Highlights

• Veteran coach and former NFL player enters his fourth season with Virginia Tech as cornerbacks coach. 

• Groomed a trio of young corners in Caleb Farley, Bryce Watts and Jovonn Quillen in 2018. That group entered the season owning no games of collegiate starting experience and by season’s end, that trio combined to start every game at corner for the Hokies.  

• Farley registered a pair of INTs in his collegiate debut at Florida State in 2018, earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors and was an Honorable Mention Selection for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award after missing the 2017 season due to injury.

• Watts also proved his mettle in 2017, missing just one start due to a broken forearm that was surgically repaired.

• Thanks to a trio of talented corners in All-ACC First Team selection Greg Stroman, along with Brandon Facyson and Adonis Alexander, no FBS team allowed a lower completion percentage (48.60%) than Tech in 2017. 

• Tech’s stingy 2017 defense ranked second in the nation on third down (26.2%), fourth in scoring defense (14.8 ppg) and fifth in first downs allowed (290).

• Quickly made an impact on Tech’s secondary in 2016 as the Hokies boasted the fifth-lowest opponent completion percentage in the nation (50.1) and ranked 10th with a 111.1 opponent passer rating. Only Michigan (21.0%) permitted a lower third-down percentage than Virginia Tech (27.5%). 

• Served as defense coordinator and secondary coach for Ruffin McNeill at East Carolina from 2010-12 after working with McNeill on the defensive staff at Texas Tech. 

• During his distinguished coaching career, has been a member of staffs that have won five conference titles and made 14 bowl appearances.

• 11 of his defensive backs have gone on to sign professional contracts. 

• In 2015, WVU’s defense led all Power Five schools by forcing 23 interceptions and ranked second with 31 total takeaways. Mitchell’s cornerbacks accounted for 11 of those INTs, finishing the year with 28 pass breakups. The Mountaineers finished the year with a +9 turnover margin (31 takes/22 gives) to rank 15th among FBS squads. 

• Daryl Worley tied for third among Power Five players with six interceptions and was eighth among FBS performers with 12 passes defended. 

• The Mountaineers also finished eighth among FBS squads in highest percentage of opponent three downs and out in 2011, while ranking No. 11 among Power Five squads in third-down defense (31.7%). 

• In 2014, WVU’s defense was eighth among Power Five teams in third-down defense (31.4%) and were No. 15 among FBS squads in terms of forcing three-and-outs. The Mountaineers also ranked No. 18 among Power Five teams in opposing passer efficiency (116.2). 

• In 2013, WVU’s defense was No. 4 among FBS squads with 16 fumbles recovered and ranked 14th among Power Five squads with 28 turnovers forced.  

• In 2012, East Carolina tied UCF for first place in the Eastern Division of Conference USA with a 7-1 league record and made its second bowl appearance in three years with Mitchell serving as DC and secondary coach. 

• Spearheaded the installation of a 3-4 scheme in 2011, an alignment that produced immediate results and earned ECU a reputation as one of most improved units nationally as the Pirates allowed 947 total net yards and 185 fewer points than the previous season. 

• Tutored cornerback Emanuel Davis to back-to-back All-Conference USA selections and developed Damon Magazu into a ball-hawking free safety who led the team with four INTs and three fumble recoveries in 2011. 

• Accompanied McNeill to East Carolina after a four-season stint at Texas Tech. 

• Jamar Wall led the secondary with 62 tackles and two interceptions in 2008 and earned All-Big 12 honors in 2009 after ranking second nationally with 17 PDs.

• The Red Raiders pass defense led the Big 12 Conference in net passing yards in both 2006 and 2007. In 2007, Texas Tech limited foes to 188.4 ypg in that department, a figure that ranked 13th among FBS squads.  

• Worked on the staff of legendary coach LaVell Edwards at BYU after a stellar playing career for the Cougars. 

• Helped guide the team to five bowl appearances and a No. 5 national ranking following a 14-1 campaign in 1996, as well as back-to-back Western Athletic Conference championships. 

• While at BYU, he also served as the faculty advisor to the Black Student Union from 1995-02.

Prominent Pupils 

CB Emanuel Davis FA-2012 – Cleveland 
2015 CFL All-Star for Hamilton with five INTs and three TDs.

CB Rasul Douglas D3-2017 – Philadelphia
Posted nine INTs in two seasons at WVU.

CB Brandon Facyson D7-2018 - L.A. Chargers
Five career INTs, 44 passes defensed at Tech. 

CB Brian Gray FA-2000 – Cincinnati
Also spent time in camp with Detroit and Seattle. 

CB Tim McTyer FA-1997 – Philadelphia
Played in 28 NFL games for Eagles and Browns. 

CB Omarr Morgan FA-1999 – Saskatchewan
Three-time CFL All-Star (2002-03, 2005)

CB Greg Stroman D7-2018 - Washington
Nine career INTs, 2017 All-ACC First Team selection

CB Jamar Wall D6-2010 – Dallas
Tied for CFL lead with six INTs and won Grey Cup with Calgary in 2014

CB Daryl Worley D3-2016 – Carolina
Two-time All-Big 12 selection with 10 career INTs

Playing Highlights

• A seventh-round draft choice of Atlanta in the 1991 NFL Draft, played in 36 games over three seasons for the Falcons.
• All-WAC cornerback who played in four bowls and ran the opening leg of BYU’s All-America 400M relay team.
• Still holds the school record for the longest interception return, a 97-yard effort against New Mexico in 1989.
• His 13 career interceptions stand fifth in the school’s record book, while his five picks in 1989 were a season high.