Virginia Military Institute - VMI Men's Football

Ingram announces offensive staff - 1/23/2026 Boasting experience across multiple collegiate levels and high school, Weiser follows Ingram to VMI from Carson-Newman where he served as the associate head coach in his two years in Jefferson City, adding the special teams coordinator title in 2025. In 2024, Weiser oversaw a wide receivers unit that helped all Eagles receivers, tight ends and running backs combine to rank first in the South Atlantic Conference play and fourth nationally with an average of 17.49 yards per catch. Before C-N, Weiser was the special teams coordinator and running backs coach for his alma mater, Eastern New Mexico University, guiding the team to an average of 284 yards per game on the ground, which ranked fourth in the country. Weiser spent time at Idaho State (FBS), Mississippi College (DII), University of the Cumberlands (NAIA), multiple high schools, Southeast Missouri State, Nebraska-Omaha and Southern Arkansas. While at University of the Cumberlands, Weiser helped the Patriots to a national championship appearance in 2013. The year prior, Weiser helped the Patriots pace the country in total offense (4,023), rank second in rushing offense per game (335.30) and both third in scoring offense (540) and scoring offense per game (45.0). A class of 2000 graduate (physical education) of Eastern New Mexico, Weiser added a master's degree in education in 2003.

Sydney Marquardt enters her third season as VMI Football’s head athletic trainer after she was hired in July 2023.   A native of East Haven, Connecticut, Marquardt comes to the Institute after serving for one year as a graduate assistant at Jacksonville State where she assumed joint responsibility of over 120 football athletes and provided sole care of 20 men’s and women’s cheerleading athletes.   Prior to Jacksonville State, Marquardt served as a student clinician for the Boston Marathon in May 2022 and the NCAA Regional Wrestling Championships held in Springfield, Mass., in March 2022.   Marquardt worked with The College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, Mass.) football team during the Fall 2021 season. She assumed joint responsibility for nearly 100 athletes and fostered positive relationships with multiple clinicians from external institutions as well as the Holy Cross medical team.   Marquardt graduated from Springfield College (Springfield, Mass.) with a bachelor's degree in athletic training in May 2022. She received her master's of science in sports management from Jacksonville State University and is set to receive her second master's degree in sport and performance psychology from the University of the Western States.   She is certified in CPR/AED and First Aid emergency medical response.

Emily Crutchfield enters her first season as an assistant athletic trainer for football at VMI after being hired in June 2025.   She comes to the Institute after spending the past two years with the Seattle Seahawks as a seasonal athletic training intern where she provided medical coverage in both practice and game settings. Her main duties included assisting the athletic training staff with the implementation and development of rehabilitation and treatment plans for acute and long-term injuries.   While attending grad school at the University of Toledo from 2021-23, Crutchfield worked with the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams as well as the football team to rehab injuries and perform exercises for injury prevention.   Before grad school, she served as a student intern for the Seattle Seahawks during the summer of 2020 to observed collaboration between sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches and athletic training staff regarding individualized rehabilitation program design. She also assisted with organizing and implementing COVID-19 procedures during training camp.   During the summer of 2019, Crutchfield served as an athletic training student intern for the University of Notre Dame working with youth sports as a first responder and athletic training student to provide injury evaluation, acute care, and documentation of injuries.   Crutchfield attended the University of Delaware from 2017-2021 as an undergraduate in athletic training working with the men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse and football programs in addition to completing rotations at a physical therapy clinic and physician office. She earned the Dr. C. Roylander Outstanding Senior Athletic Training Student Award given to a student who has demonstrated leadership, scholarship, and achievement.   She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in athletic training from Delaware in 2021 before going on to earn her master’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in athletic training from the University of Toledo in 2023.  

Ingram announced the hiring of Yaya on February 12.  Yaya comes to Lexington after playing and coaching for Suny Brockport. As a player, Yaya appeared in 28 games totaling 63.0 tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. In his senior season (2022), Yaya earned Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team honors after totaling 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and nine quarterback hurries. As a coach, Yaya helped the Golden Eagles to three consecutive postseason appearances and two ECAC Bowl wins. Earning a kinesiology degree with a minor in coaching, Yaya added a master's in athletic administration in 2025. Yaya is a native of Staten Island, New York.

Capone worked the previous two years for the Marist Football program, serving as the Director of Football Operations while overseeing equipment, team managers, travel and video.

Ingram announces offensive staff (1/23/2026) Brent Thompson – Offensive Coordinator Thompson is a familiar name to the Southern Conference, as he served as the head coach of The Citadel Bulldogs for seven seasons, serving as the offensive coordinator for two seasons prior to being promoted. In his debut season of 2016, Thompson led the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record and perfect 8-0 mark in SoCon play, marking the just the seventh time in league history that a team has gone undefeated, earning him Coach of the Year honors. The 2016 title was just the second in program history, as The Citadel ranked in the top 10 in rushing offense four times during his tenure in Charleston. One of Thompson's biggest wins came in 2019, when the Bulldogs defeated Georgia Tech 27-24 in overtime. Thompson would coach The Citadel through 2022, serving as the Director of Recruiting Operations for East Carolina beginning in 2023. Prior to The Citadel, Thompson mastered his offense at Lenoir-Rhyne (L-R), running the triple option from 2010-13 and taking L-R to the Division II Championship in 2013. Before L-R, Thompson was an assistant coach at Bucknell after starting on staff in 2003. A 1998 graduate of Norwich, Thompson holds a degree in peace, war and diplomacy, beginning his coaching career at Dickinson in 1998 before working at Stony Brook in 2000. A native of Poughkeepsie, New York, Thompson and his wife Tiffany have twin daughters, Harper and Emma.

Ingram announces Defensive Staff - 1/21/2026 Backus comes to VMI from Cornell, where he served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator since 2013. At Cornell, Backus developed and coached 28 All-Ivy League players as the Big Red defense ranked 32nd in passing offense in 2017 and finished in the top 25 in first downs (6th), third-downs (10th), red zone (14th), rushing (19th), scoring (17th), and total defense (21st) in 2019. Among Backus' stops (Princeton, Temple, Maine, Rutgers) was Bucknell where he and coach Ingram were on the same staff in 2006, helping lead the biggest turnaround at the FCS level, taking a team from 1-10 in 20025 to 6-5 in 2006. Serving as the Bison's defensive coordinator, Backus coached all-conference players such as Sean Conover who would go on to spend three seasons with the Tennessee Titans and his 2004 unit was 24th nationally in scoring defense. At Temple (2006-09), Backus was part of a staff that posted a 10-3 record in 2009, earning the school its first bowl bid before heading to Princeton for the 2010 season. Serving as the defensive coordinator for Princeton, Backus drastically improved a Tigers defensive unit that would rank third in the nation in scoring defense, ninth in sacks and red zone defense, 17th in scoring and rushing defense and 28th in tackles for loss in his final season (2012) before his tenure at Cornell. One of Backus' other notable stops was the aforementioned Maine, in which the Black Bears won the 2001 Atlantic 10 Championship and made the FCS Quarterfinal. Graduating from Springfield College in 1993, Backus would add a master's degree in physical education in 1998. A two-year letterwinner at Springfield, Backus and his wife Amanda have two sons, Garrett and Gavin, and a daughter, Grace.  

Ingram announces Defensive Staff - 1/21/2026 Falbo comes to Lexington from St. Thomas where he was the special teams coordinator and safeties coach this past season, helping the Tommies to a 7-5 record. Prior to St. Thomas, Falbo was the special teams coordinator and assistant coach for 10 years at Cornell (2014-2024). At Cornell, Falbo had a variety of roles (linebackers, running backs) and coached a number of All-Ivy League honorees including Luke Hagy, who would become the first player in league history to surpass 2,00 rushing and 1,500 receiving yards in a career. Falbo also coached Chris Fraser, who re-wrote both the Cornell and Ivy League record books for punting. Falbo's other career stops include RPI, UMass, St. Lawrence, Syracuse, Western Connecticut, California (Pa.) Maine Maritime Academy and Rhode Island (2002-03) where he overlapped with Coach Ingram. Falbo and his wife Stephanie have three sons.

Ingram announces Defensive Staff - 1/21/2026 Gaines comes to VMI after spending the last three seasons at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, where he coached defensive backs and served as Special Teams Coordinator for one of the nation's top prep programs. After a playing career at Navy (2011-14), Gaines began his coaching career at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in 2016 as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator before serving as a graduate assistant at Miami (Ohio) and later at the University of Cincinnati during one of the most successful stretches in program history. Specializing in defensive back play, Gaines helped Cincinnati to a 13-0 start, the program's first College Football Playoff appearance, and the nation's top-ranked pass defense in 2021. At Cincinnati, he coached future NFL draft picks Coby Bryant (Seahawks), the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award winner, and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (Jets/Colts), a First-Team All-American and the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft. A United States Naval Academy graduate, Gaines served six years on active duty as a commissioned Navy officer, and his personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. A Smyrna, Tennessee, native, he made 46 consecutive starts at defensive back for the Midshipmen, earned multiple First Team All-Conference honors, and was elected co-captain as a senior in 2014. Gaines holds graduate degrees from Vanderbilt University (MBA), the University of Louisville (Sport Administration), the University of Cincinnati (Education), and Troy University (Human Resource Management).  

Ingram announces Defensive Staff - 1/21/2026 Hayes will also join VMI from Cornell, where he worked under Backus as a defensive analyst. A native of North Syracuse, New York, Hayes played quarterback for Ithaca, appearing in 18 games over two years, graduating with a degree in business administration with a concentration in sport management in 2023. In the fall of 2023, Hayes coached at a local high school before joining the Ithaca staff as an offensive assistant in November. Shortly after, Hayes would move on to Cornell, serving as special teams quality control in addition to his analyst duties.

Ingram announces offensive staff - 1/23/2026 Patrick is one of three coaches that joined Ingram from Carson-Newman, helping C-N to an NCAA bid and 16-6 record in two seasons as the running backs coach and special teams assistant. Patrick started his playing career at the Naval Academy, transferring to Division II power Lenoir-Rhyne where he earned All-American honors from Don Hansen's Football Gazette, rushing for 788 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior season. Patrick started his coaching career at Harding (Arkansas) in 2016 where he worked with the quarterbacks and B-backs, helping the Bisons to a 13-1 record and an NCAA Division II Quarterfinal appearance. After Harding, Patrick would coach at the US Naval Academy Preparatory School for three years and The Westminster School (HS) in Atlanta for a season before joining Ingram in Jefferson City. Holding a bachelor's degree in mathematics and MBA in Administration, Patrick also coached basketball and baseball at Westminster, serving as a mentor to all student-athletes at the school.

Ingram announces offensive staff 1/23/2026 Ray brings a strong pedigree to VMI, as he was a three-time All-American, three-time winner of the South Atlantic Conference's (SAC) Jacobs Blocking Trophy – a feat only Ray has accomplished - and a two-time finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award for the best lineman in Division II football during his playing career at Lenoir-Rhyne (L-R). With Ray in the lineup, L-R averaged 386 rushing yards per game and in 2013, L-R broke the all-time rushing record for yards in a season (5,563) which would be held until it was broken in 2023. In 2014, Ray's junior season, the team's average of 416.2 rushing yards per game set a new NCAA Division II record.   After his playing career, in which L-R named a blocking award after him, Ray started his coaching career at Carson-Newman (C-N), where he would spend a total of six seasons, including the 2024 and 2025 seasons under Ingram. Beginning as a graduate assistant, Ray earned promotions of offensive quality control, offensive line and ultimately recruiting coordinator. At C-N, Ray coached All-SAC linemen Christian Jones and Mike Peppin in 2022, as the duo helped the Eagles finish in the top 25 nationally in rushing yards per game (203.6). During Ingram's first year (2024), Ray coached Turk Daniels to All-SAC honors, with Daniels becoming the first offensive lineman in SAC history to win the league's Offensive Freshman of the Year award. After helping Jones to three All-SAC selections, this season (2025) Ray also coached Jay'Den Williams to Second Team All-Region honors. A 2016 graduate of L-R, Ray is married to the former Katie Gash.

Ingram announces offensive staff - 1/21/2026 Most recently coaching the running backs for UCLA, Thomas is a Naval Academy graduate where he was a slot back and return specialist from 2010-14. As a player, Thomas earned 2011 Second Team All-Independent, 2012 Honorable Mention All-Independent, 2013 Honorable Mention All-Independent and 2013 ECAC All-Star recognition. Upon finishing his career, Thomas was the recipient of the Napoleon McCallum Award, presented to the Navy varsity football player of the graduating class who gained the most all-purpose yards (2,338). Thomas proudly served as an Aviation Supply Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps until 2019 when he then kick started his coaching career at UCLA (offensive analyst). Thomas quickly found his way back to Annapolis, serving as the director of player personnel in 2022, elevating to slot backs coach in 2023 before reuniting with Ken Niumatalolo at San Jose State (running backs) and then finding his way back to UCLA. While Thomas' impact can be felt on the field – among his contributions are helping guide a UCLA rushing attack that finished 17th nationally in rushing yards per game – is his impact off the field, as he's overseen recruitment, academic progress, video breakdown, organization of positional meetings and more. Thomas holds a bachelor's in political science and completed both leadership and character development (The Basic School) and Aviation Supply Officer Course.

Ingram announces staff - 1/21/2026 A Pennsylvania native, Schwager earned his bachelor's from Lock Haven in 2009 and added his master's from California (Pa.) in 2012. Schwager has had a number of impressive stops during his career including internships with Princeton, University of South Florida and Michigan State (football + Olympic sports). Schwager has been the director of strength and conditioning at Newberry, Northwestern State, Charleston Southern University and Gray Collegiate Academy, was an assistant football strength coach at Kansas State and was a contractor for Reef Corp Systems in which he designed performance programs for para jumpers in the United States Air Force. Schwager holds both National Strength and Conditioning (NCSA) and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certifications, as well CPR and AED.