West Virginia football assistant pens letter after accepting position
The West Virginia Mountaineers recently decided to hire Victor Cabral as their new outside linebackers coach. On Friday evening, he decided to pen a letter of goodbye to his old team’s fans–the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
“App Nation,”
“I want to thank Head Coach Shawn Clark, Athletic Director Doug Gillin, and Coach Scot Sloan for the awesome opportunity to coach at App State in the greatest heel turn of all time! The passion, love and toughness Coach Clark gives to App State is incredible and I have learned so much from him.”
“Our time here has been nothing short of amazing and we are forever grateful for these players! Specifically, the fellas on #TheYard, you have made a huge impact in my life and I am so thankful to shared this last season with you! I’m here for all of you forever. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!!!”
“With that said, my family and I are excited to say we are moving to Morgantown, West Virginia to have the honor of coaching at West Virginia University! Thank you to Athletic Director Wren Baker and Coach Neal Brown! We cannot wait to join the West Virginia staff and continue the climb they have started toward a Big 12 Championship!”
“#AlmostHeaven”
“Victor Cabral”
More info on the new West Virginia OLB coach
Cabral spent only one year at Appalachian State, where he served as an assistant coach overseeing the team’s defensive line. But Cabral has a good deal of coaching experience beyond just his time at Appalachian State.
Prior to taking that gig, he spent 2018-21 at Georgia Southern, where he coached the defensive line. Beginning in 2019, Cabral also inherited the recruiting coordinator title.
Cabral has spent a good portion of his time coaching in the state of Georgia, though he also had a short stint at Samford in Alabama.
The new West Virginia Mountaineers outside linebackers coach also has former experience as a player, suiting up for Georgia Southern as a defensive lineman from 2000-04. He then briefly spent some time playing professionally with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League before getting into coaching.
Cabral’s first stop as a coach was back at his alma mater, Georgia Southern, in 2005. He worked with the video department and the quality control department. From there, Cabral went to Georgia Military for three years, where he also worked with the defensive line and special teams.
He returned to Georgia Southern for a second stint working with the defensive line in 2010.
You can view a full career coaching bio for Victor Cabral below.
The Victor Cabral File
2005-06 – Georgia Southern (video / quality control)
2007-09 – Georgia Military (defensive line / special teams)
2010-13 – Georgia Southern (defensive line)
2014 – Georgia Southern (director of player personnel)
2015-17 – Samford (defensive line)
2018 – Georgia Southern (defensive line)
2019-21 – Georgia Southern (defensive line / recruiting coordinator)
2023 – Appalachian State (defensive line)
On3’s Thomas Goldkamp also contributed to this article.