UPDATED: UVA football officially hiring Adam Mims, team senior analyst, as wide receivers coach

Jan 30, 2023 - 2:37 PM

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Following the departure of Associate Head Coach and Wide Receivers Coach Marques Hagans, the Virginia Cavaliers have officially hire senior offensive analyst Adam Mims as the programs new Wide Receivers Coach. After it was reported this morning by On3’s Matt Zenitz, Elliott has now announced the move.

“I’m pleased to take this opportunity to promote Adam to a full-time coaching position,” Elliott said. “He’s an outstanding young coach and we’re blessed he has been with us for the past year as an analyst. He understands the program, is familiar with the offense and knows the players. That will make it a seamless transition for him. He’s demonstrated the ability to bring out the best in his position players in the past and brings great passion and enthusiasm to the program every day.”

“There truly are not enough words to express the excitement I have for the opportunity to lead our receivers at such an incredible University,” Mims said. “I appreciate Coach Elliott entrusting me to serve such a special group of young men. I eagerly await the days, weeks and months ahead assisting this group, and ultimately our team, reach its fullest potential.”

For some background, Mims’ relationship goes back a ways with Tony Elliott as Mims was a very good receiver at Furman while Elliott coached the receivers there. Additionally, before he joined Virginia in January of 2022, Mims coached wide receivers at UT-Chattanooga for three years. Before that, he had the same position at Tennessee Tech in 2018 and coached receivers while also being the passing game coordinator for Presbyterian in 2016 and 2017. Back in 2015, he was an offensive analyst for Samford.

As a player at Furman, Mims was a record-setting receiver as he closed out his career with the most receptions in program history, the most receiving yards, and the most receptions in one season. After college he signed contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011 and the Montreal Alouettes (CFL) in 2012 before getting into coaching.

Obviously, Hagans taking the job at Penn State in late January always meant that the Wahoos were stuck in a tough place for hiring his replacement. And, while Mims could very well be successful in this position, Elliott’s decision to hire from within is a notable one.

Again, this isn’t a criticism of Mims, he deserves the chance to prove himself. But replacing Hagans was already going to be an incredibly difficult task both on the trail and on the field. Putting that on someone who doesn’t have extensive experience as a position coach at the FBS level seems like a tough ask. Fortunately, Elliott clearly has an established relationship with Mims, should play a part in coaching and recruiting wide receivers considering his own experience, and no doubt trusts him to coach and recruit the position as he wants him to.