Jimmy Sharpe (born October 31, 1939) is an American former

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

player and coach. He served as the head football coach at

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...

from 1974 to 1977. He was also an assistant coach at the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

, under

Bear Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of ...

, and at

Mississippi State University Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Mississippi State, Mississippi, Un ...

. Sharpe graduated Montgomery's

Sidney Lanier High School Sidney Lanier High School was a Public school (government funded), public high school in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. History Established in 1910 on the southern outskirts of downtown Montgomery, Alabama, the school was named for a South ...

and, in 1974, from the University of Alabama.

Virginia Tech

Sharpe, an 11-year veteran of Bear Bryant's Alabama coaching staff, was hired by the Hokies in 1974 to replace

Charlie Coffey Charles Edward Coffey (June 28, 1934 – August 24, 2015) was an American football player and coach. A native of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Coffey attended the University of Tennessee to play football for Robert Neyland. While at the University of ...

, who had been let go following a lackluster performance. He was dismissed in 1977 following a disappointing 3–7–1 season.

Head coaching record

References

1939 births Living people American football offensive guards Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches Alabama Crimson Tide football players Mississippi State Bulldogs football coaches Pittsburgh Panthers football coaches Virginia Tech Hokies football coaches Sidney Lanier High School alumni Players of American football from Montgomery, Alabama {{1970s-collegefootball-coach-stub