Football Announces Victor Cabral as Outside Linebackers Coach
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – (January 29, 2024) - West Virginia University football coach Neal Brown has announced the hiring of Victor Cabral (cuh-BRAWL) as the Mountaineers’ outside linebackers coach.
“I would like to welcome Victor, his wife, Erin, and their family, to West Virginia University and Mountaineer Football,” Brown said. “I have a lot of respect for him having coached and recruited against him. He brings contagious positive energy, is a proven developer of pass rushers and is an effective recruiter.”
With Cabral handling the outside linebacker duties, Jordan Lesley will spearhead the defensive unit as the coordinator, Andrew Jackson will continue to oversee the defensive line, Jeff Koonz will coach the inside linebackers and ShaDon Brown will tutor the defensive secondary, including the cornerbacks and safeties.
“Thanks to coach Neal Brown and vice president and director of athletics Wren Baker for giving me the opportunity to join the coaching staff at West Virginia,” Cabral said. “I am excited to become a part of Mountaineer football. This program has a long and successful history with a lot of tradition, and I have a lot of respect for the state of West Virginia, its people and their values. I look forward to working with Jordan, the coaching staff and the players.”
Cabral comes to WVU after serving as the defensive line coach at Appalachian State for the past year, helping lead the Mountaineers to a 9-5 record and the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division Championship, ending the season with a win over Miami, Ohio, in the Cure Bowl.
Last season, the defense showed improvement in every pass rushing statistic, finishing with 35 sacks and 86 tackles for loss. The Mountaineers finished No. 9 nationally in turnovers gained, No. 15 in interceptions, No. 16 in fumbles recovered, No. 33 in sacks (increased 14 spots) and No. 34 in tackles for loss (increased 42 spots). In conference games, App State was tied for No. 2 in interceptions, No. 3 in sacks (No. 11 the prior year), No. 5 in scoring defense and No. 5 in pass efficiency defense.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Santana Hopper finished with 7.5 tackles for loss and earned Freshman All-America honors.
A standout defensive lineman and team captain at Georgia Southern from 2000-04, Cabral spent 11 years on the Eagles' coaching staff over three different stints and also has coached at Samford and Georgia Military College.
Several of his pupils played in the NFL, including Raymond Johnson III, Ahmad Gooden, Michael Pierce and Brent Russell.
Under Cabral's tutelage in 2020, Johnson earned All-America honors after recording 14.5 tackles for loss and a school-record 15 quarterback hurries. Georgia Southern's defensive line combined for 34.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks as the defense finished No. 15 nationally in rushing defense.
In 2018, all three of Cabral's starters along the defensive line — Johnson, Logan Hunt and Ty Phillips — earned all-conference honors as the Eagles produced a stout run defense that allowed just 140.5 yards per game. In 2019, Johnson earned first-team all-conference honors again, and Cabral's line corps combined for 35.5 tackles for loss.
While he was the defensive line coach at Samford from 2015-17, the Bulldogs made to the FCS playoffs twice. He coached Gooden, the 2017 Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award after totaling 101 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 11 quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble from his tackle spot.
He tutored four All-SoCon players during his time at Samford, including three-time selection Gooden, Pierce in 2015 and Roosevelt Donaldson in 2016.
Cabral spent the 2014 season as the director of player personnel at Georgia Southern.
From 2010-13, he served as the defensive line coach at Georgia Southern. Cabral worked with several standout players, including Russell, a four-time All-American and 2011 Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year who became the Eagles' career sacks leader in 2012.
Cabral spent three years as the defensive line coach at Georgia Military College from 2007-09, while also serving as special teams coordinator for the Bulldogs. In 2007, the GMC defensive unit earned a No. 1 ranking in rushing defense in the NJCAA. The next season, the Bulldogs ranked third nationally in total defense. The Bulldogs also had several individuals earn national accolades. Leroy Burgess was selected as a NJCAA Third-Team All-American in 2007, and Torrey Ball was a second-team All-America honoree in 2008.
Under the tutelage of Cabral, Markeith Wylie was recognized as an Academic All-American First Team selection in 2007. Thirteen GMC players coached by Cabral received scholarships to NCAA Division I programs during his three seasons in Milledgeville.
Cabral spent the 2005 season coordinating video and quality control at Georgia Southern.
A four-year starter, Cabral was part of Georgia Southern's 2000 national championship team, two NCAA semifinal playoff appearances and four conference titles during his career. Following his collegiate playing career, he was the 24th overall draft pick by the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL in 2005.
A native of Naples, Florida, Cabral earned his bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern in 2006 and his master's degree in 2013. Cabral and his wife, Erin, a four-year letterwinner and team captain for the Georgia Southern swimming team and a two-time GS graduate, are the parents of a son, Zac, and a daughter, Lucy.
