Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Football

Joined Virginia Tech Football Staff: 2026 Prior to Virginia Tech: Rocco arrived in Blacksburg following four seasons as an offensive analyst and analytics coordinator at Penn State. He began his career as a student assistant at Liberty before moving on to Richmond as an offensive assistant and quality control intern. He was promoted to the Spiders’ Director of Player Personnel role in 2015. Rocco spent six years at Western Illinois (2016-21), serving in roles as wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in his tenure there. Education: Liberty, 2013 (B.S. in Sport Management); Liberty, 2015 (M.S. in Sport Administration) Personal: Raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, Rocco was a two-year starter at Liberty Christian Academy, playing both wide receiver and defensive back, helping LCA win the 2007 VISAA state championship. Rocco and his wife, Taylor, have a son, Brooks.

Joined Virginia Tech Football Staff: 2026 Prior to Virginia Tech: Tangelo arrived at Virginia Tech following a stint as an assistant coach at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland in 2024 followed by one season at Troy as a graduate assistant in 2025. Education: Duke, 2021 (B.S. in Sociology) Personal: A native of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Tangelo was a four-year letterman and three-year starter on the defensive line at Duke (2017-20) where he played 45 games over four seasons, recording 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks, one pass defended, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also spent a graduate season at Penn State in 2021 registering 29 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, one pass defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Tangelo signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 2022 and also spent time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL.

Joined Virginia Tech Football Staff: 2022 Prior to Virginia Tech: Johnson spent time in the NFL on the practice squad for the Tennessee Titans in 2021 after entering the league as a free agent with the Houston Texans. Johnson was the assistant defensive line coach for the Hokies in 2024 and 2025, after serving the previous two season as a grad assistant (2023) and defensive analyst (2022). Education: Penn State, 2018 (B.S. in Business Psychology); Penn State, 2019 (M.S. in Management & Organizational Leadership) Personal: A native of Mohnton, Pennsylvania, Johnson played for Penn State from 2015-2019 and appeared in 33 games, totaling 150 tackles. The former linebacker also was also a member of the 2015 national championship wrestling team as a heavyweight wrestler.

The Spencer File Virginia Tech XP: First season Coaching XP: 31st season Hometown: Hartford, Conn. High School: Bulkeley High School (Conn.) Alma Mater: Clarion University (1995) Playing XP: Safety at Clarion (1992-94) Family: Daughter - Alysia COACHING TIMELINE SEASONS ORGANIZATION / SCHOOL TITLE 2026-pres. Virginia Tech Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line 2024-25 Texas A&M Defensive Line 2022-23 Florida Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line 2020-21 NFL - New York (NFC) Pass Rush Coordinator / Defensive Line 2018-19 Penn State Associate Head Coach / Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line 2014-17 Penn State Defensive Line 2011-13 Vanderbilt Defensive Line 2009-10 Bowling Green Defensive Line 2007-08 Massachusetts Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Line 2006 Hofstra Defensive Line 2005 Villanova Linebackers 2004 Holy Cross Defensive Line 2001-03 Massachusetts Defensive Line 1998-2000 Trinity College Passing Game Coordinator / Defensive Line / Running Backs 1996-97 Shippensburg Running Backs 1995 Wesleyan Tight Ends / Wide Receivers POSTSEASON GAMES (15) SEASONS ORGANIZATION / SCHOOL GAME 2025 Texas A&M CFP First Round 2024 Texas A&M Las Vegas Bowl 2022 Florida Las Vegas Bowl 2019 Penn State Cotton Bowl Classic 2019 Penn State Citrus Bowl 2017 Penn State Fiesta Bowl 2017 Penn State Rose Bowl Game 2016 Penn State TaxSlayer Bowl 2014 Penn State Pinstripe Bowl 2014 Vanderbilt BBVA Compass Bowl 2012 Vanderbilt Music City Bowl 2011 Vanderbilt Liberty Bowl 2009 Bowling Green

The Howle File Virginia Tech XP: First season Coaching XP: 13th season Hometown: Bunn, N.C. High School: Bunn High School (N.C.) Alma Mater: Penn State (2013) Playing XP: Offensive lineman at Penn State (2009-13) ... Captain at Penn State (2013) Family: Wife - Karen; Sons - Walker, Blake COACHING TIMELINE SEASONS ORGANIZATION / SCHOOL TITLE 2026-pres. Virginia Tech Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends 2022-25 Penn State Co-Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends 2021-22 Penn State Tight Ends 2020 Penn State Offensive Analyst 2018-19 Western Illinois Assistant Head Coach / Co-Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line 2016-17 Western Illinois Recruiting Coordinator / Offensive Line 2014-15 NC State Offensive Graduate Assistant POSTSEASON GAMES (12) SEASONS ORGANIZATION / SCHOOL GAME 2024 Penn State CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl 2024 Penn State CFP Quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl 2024 Penn State CFP First Round 2023 Penn State Peach Bowl 2023 Penn State Rose Bowl Game 2022 Penn State Outback Bowl 2017 Western Illinois FCS First Round 2015 NC State Belk Bowl 2014 NC State St. Petersburg Bowl 2012 Penn State TicketCity Bowl (player) 2011 Penn State Outback Bowl (player) 2010 Penn State Capital One Bowl (player) PROMINENT NFL PUPILS POSITION NAME ACCOLADE TE Tyler Warren 2025 NFL Draft, First Round (Indianapolis) TE Theo Johnson 2024 NFL Draft, Fourth Round (New York [NFC]) TE Brenton Strange 2023 NFL Draft, Second Round (Jacksonville) OL Garrett Bradbury 2019 NFL Draft, First Round (Minn