Virginia Tech Hires Buffalo Bills' Bill Teerlinck as Defensive Line Coach

Photo Credit: Dave Knachel/Virginia Tech Athletics

Virginia Tech made a major splash addition to their defensive staff with the hiring of Buffalo Bills assistant Bill Teerlinck as their next defensive line coach.

Teerlinck joins Virginia Tech after three years with the Bills as the defensive line coach the past 2 seasons and assistant defensive line coach in 2017. Before that, Teerlinck was the defensive line coach at Nevada from 2014-16 while taking on co-defensive coordinator in 2015 and 2016. Teerlinck was a defensive assistant for the Indianapolis Colts from 2007-2011.

Teerlinck has also coached alongside Justin Fuente previously when they were both assistants at Illinois State in 2005 and 2006. That connection likely proved valuable in Teerlinck joining Fuente's coaching staff.

In addition to that news, Darryl Tapp was formally named the co-defensive line coach after previously being hired as a defensive assistant.

Justin Fuente and Bill Teerlinck had this to say about Teerlinck joining Tech's Coaching staff (via VT press release).

“I believe Bill is one of the best in the business in terms of coaching the defensive line,” Fuente said. “He’s worked his way up the coaching ranks and has learned from some of the NFL’s most respected defensive coaches. Obviously, Bill and I have history working together and the timing was finally right for him to get back into the college game. He will be another solid addition to our staff and I’m excited for him to join us at Virginia Tech.”

“I have the utmost respect for Coach Fuente and the staff he’s put together at Virginia Tech,” Teerlinck said. “I love teaching the game and helping players reach their full potential. I’ve always thought that if the right opportunity came along that I’d enjoy getting back into college football. Clearly, the chance to rejoin Coach Fuente at a place with a such a long winning tradition and defensive excellence like Virginia Tech was the perfect fit. I can’t wait to get my family to Blacksburg and get to work.”

We will have more as this story develops.