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Feb. 17, 2004
Charlottesville, Va. – Head football coach Al Groh announced the additions of John Garrett and Anthony Poindexter to his coaching staff today.
As the newly appointed wide receivers coach, Garrett brings a wealth of experience in many different capacities in the NFL to Virginia. A 1988 graduate of Princeton, he played wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989, and also was signed by the Buffalo Bills for the 1991 campaign. In the spring of 1991, he was one of the top receivers for the San Antonio Riders of the World League.
Following his playing career, he spent three seasons as a pro personnel assistant (1992-94) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition to his personnel duties, he prepared for a coaching career by assisting with on-field coaching of wide receivers, by assisting offensive coaches with game plans and by assisting defensive coaches in the press box on game days.
Garrett then moved to the Bengals’ coaching staff where he served as an offensive assistant and wide receivers coach from 1995-98, before spending two seasons (1999-2000) as quarterbacks coach for the Arizona Cardinals. He returned to the Bengals staff as offensive assistant and tight ends coach from 2001-02. He served as a scout for the Bengals last season.
The 38-year old Garrett comes from a football family. His father, Jim, played pro football and coached in the NFL from 1970-84, and is currently a Dallas Cowboys scout. Brother Jason played QB for the Cowboys from 1994-99 and was with the New York Giants in 2000-01. Brother Judd played running back for Dallas and in the Canadian League, and is currently an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins.
Garrett and his wife, Honor, have a son-John Morgan, and three daughters-Honor, Olivia and Caroline.
One of the greatest players in UVa history, Poindexter has been tabbed running backs coach. He served as a graduate assistant coach at UVa for the previous two seasons, including last year when he worked as an offensive graduate assistant.
Regarded as one of the fiercest hitters in the game during his collegiate career (1995-98), Poindexter earned first-team All-America honors at safety his junior and senior seasons. He was also chosen the 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and is one of only three players in school history to earn first-team All-ACC recognition three times. He finished his career with 342 tackles, most ever by a UVa defensive back, and intercepted 12 passes.
Unfortunately, Poindexter’s senior season ended prematurely when he injured his knee in the seventh game of the season and underwent reconstructive surgery. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft. He spent two seasons with the Ravens before ending his pro career with the Cleveland Browns.
A 1999 graduate of the University, Poindexter and his wife, Kim, have a daughter, Morocca, and a son, A.J.
“With the addition of John Garrett as wide receivers coach and Anthony Poindexter as running backs coach, we have increased the experience level of our offensive staff while maintaining the energy level that has been a big part of our offensive team’s performance,” said Groh in announcing the additions.