University of Richmond Athletics
London Named BCA Coach of the Week
09/03/2008 | Football
Sept. 3, 2008
RICHMOND - First-year head coach Mike London was tabbed the Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) National Coach of the Week for leading the Richmond football team to a season-opening win at nationally-ranked Elon Saturday. The victory boosted the Spiders, who play at Virginia Saturday, to No. 3 in the FCS Top-25.
After spending 20 years as an assistant, including previous stops at Richmond, Virginia and the NFL's Houston Texans, London grabbed his first career head-coaching victory Saturday as the Spiders knocked off the Phoenix, 28-10. Junior QB Eric Ward was 17-of-22 passing with a career-high 236 yards and two TDs in the game, on his way to National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
The 1983 Richmond graduate became the Spiders' 33rd head football coach in January, after six seasons molding one of the nation's top defenses at Virginia. Most recently as the Cavaliers' defensive coordinator, London coached All-America LB Chris Long to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Previous coaches who have earned the BCA's weekly award include Dawn Staley, Doc Rivers, Willie Randolph and Ted Cottrell.
No. 3 Richmond plays at Virginia Saturday at 3:45 p.m. in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU.
