Jacoby Promoted to Full-Time Status

WINCHESTER, Va. - Shenandoah University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John Hill and head football coach Paul Barnes announced Monday that assistant football coach Joe Jacoby will join the program full-time.

Jacoby, who worked with the offensive line this past season as a volunteer assistant, will begin his full-time duties in July. Until then, he will serve in a part-time role and help Barnes and his full-time staff recruit for the class of 2013.

Jacoby, a 1983 Louisville graduate, starred from 1981 to 1993 with the Washington Redskins in the NFL. He was an original member of the famed "Hogs" offensive line, earned four consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl from 1983 through 1986 and helped the Redskins to Super Bowl championships in 1983, 1988 and 1992.

In his career, Jacoby played in 170 games, scored one touchdown and was named to the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1980's in addition to earning those four Pro Bowl selections.

Following his retirement in 1993, Jacoby began a business career that included owning a car dealership in nearby Warrenton, Va. while also staying involved in the game by contributing to the Redskins pre-game radio show.

After selling the dealership in early 2008, Jacoby approached Barnes about becoming involved with the SU program as an assistant coach. Working with Barnes and 2008 graduate Nick Oakley as offensive line coaches, Jacoby was part of a staff that saw the Hornets improve their offensive production by 50 yards per game from 2007 and set new school records in eight different offensive categories.

"Having Joe on the staff was a real asset to us this past year," Barnes said. "He worked tirelessly with our student-athletes and I appreciated his input. He brought a different perspective to the unit and it reinforced our teaching techniques.

"When the administration came to me with a plan to make Joe full-time, I supported it whole-heartedly. He fits in very well with the rest of our staff and has the respect of all of our players. This is going to be another advantage for our program."

Jacoby has already hit the recruiting trail, having visited 15 schools in northern Virginia last week.

"I am thrilled to be part of this staff and work with the young men at Shenandoah," Jacoby said. "I think this staff is as outstanding as the staff I played for with the Redskins and coach Gibbs. I can only hope that we have as much success here as I enjoyed with the Redskins."