Cindi Sturgill will return for her sixth season as a member of the UVa-Wise football staff in 2011.

Prior to accepting the equipment manger position in 2009, Cindi worked as the student equipment manager over the 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons. This season, Sturgill will add  the responsibility of overseeing a student work staff of three in game day video filming.  Over her tenure, Cindi has been known for her tireless work ethic and devotion to the Cavalier Football Team. 

She is a graduate of Strasburg High School and recently earned a business degree from UVa-Wise. Smoot also recently married Justin Sturgill.

After spending the last three years as the head baseball coach at Appalachia High School, Mike Rhodes will serve as an assistant defensive and special teams coach at UVa-Wise in 2011. Overall, the Virginia Intermont alumnus boasts four years of coaching experience.

Coach Rhodes and his wife Leah reside in Gate City, Virginia.

Southwest Virginia native, Chris Robinson will begin his first season on the UVa-Wise coaching staff in 2011.  The veteran coach will serve as the offensive line coach after spending the last 11 seasons coaching at nearby Clintwood High School. With 12 total years of prep coaching experience, Robinson has been a part of numerous   district, regional, and state runner up teams.  This season, he will direct an offensive line that returns five starters including all conference performer Alex Martin.

Robinson resides in Clintwood with his wife Diana; the couple has two boys Christopher and Nicholas.

Former UVa-Wise defensive standout, Kenneth Mitchell will return as the team's linebackers coach in 2011. During his playing days, Mitchell excelled as a linebacker and defensive end, earning four "Kamikaze Awards".  As a coach, he has also excelled; while at Union College, Mitchell placed three linebackers on the Mid-South's All Conference team. This season, Mitchell will coach a unit that returns nine letter winners from a season ago. 

Mitchell obtained a bachelor's degree from UVa-Wise before going on to earn a master's degree from Union College. The coach resides in Wise, Virginia with his wife Amanda.

Chad Carpenter will serve as offensive line coach and videographer during his first season the Cavalier Coaching Staff in 2011. The Taylor University alumnus brings nine years of coaching experience in both the prep and collegiate ranks to UVa-Wise. Over his career, Carpenter has served as an assistant coach at Emory and Henry College as well as Tennessee High School.

Carpenter earned a bachelor's degree from Taylor University in 1997 before adding a master's degree from Concordia University earlier this year. The coach resides in Bristol, Tennessee with his wife Jennifer and their son Graham. 

After a four year career as a UVa-Wise Cavalier tight end, Luke Logan joins the staff as a student assistant this season. A graduate of Pound High School in Pound, Virginia, Logan graduated from UVa-Wise in December of 2010 with a degree in history. While pursing his master's degree in education at Emory and Henry College, Logan will serve as an assistant to the Cavalier football program and be involved in preparing athletes for the upcoming season as well as assisting the coaches in game-day preparation and strategy.

A lifelong resident of Wise County, Logan lives in Pound, Virginia.

In 2011, John Kuczko will return to a familiar position as he will be coaching the defensive line. The long time coach has been with the UVa-Wise staff since 1997 and has served the football program in many capacities during his 15 seasons as a Cavalire staff member.

During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Kuzcko served as the school's defensive coordinator. As coordinator, Kuzcko saw the defense make remarkable strides in his first season. In 2008, the Cavs' were ranked 18th in the nation in sacks with 30 and 20th in the nation in opponents third down conversions, holding opponents to a 31% success rate.  The unit tied for sixth in the nation with 18 pass interceptions to go along with 13 forced fumbles. A year ago, Kuzcko's defense forced back to back shutouts in victories over Newport News Apprentice and West Virginia Tech. The defensive unit was very impressive inside Carl Smith Stadium in 2009. In five home games, the defense held opponents to 19.8 points per game. In 2010, Kuczko's unit was one of the strengths of the Cavalier squad, racking up 11 sacks and 52 tackles for loss.

Prior to becoming defensive coordinator, Kuzcko served as the program's defensive line coach from 1997-2007. Throughout his tenure, he has also played an integral part of the recruiting process. Along with other Cavalier coaches, he has traveled the state to meet with young men and their parents about the possibility of becoming a Cavalier.

The coach and his wife, Donna, who live in Abingdon, Virginia, have two daughters, Kelly and Shea. Kelly and her husband Shawn Good live in Christiansburg and they have two daughters, Hayse and Rinnah. Shea is married to Zach Tritt and they have a daughter, Tallinn, and live in Abingdon. 

After serving last season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Cavalier program, Justin Hamilton will take over the defensive coordinator for the UVa-Wise squad. This is Hamilton's second season being involved in UVa-Wise athletics after leaving professional football to pursue other interests.

A star at the local Clintwood High School, Hamilton was one of the most prolific athletes in southwest Virginia. A four year football starter who was recruited by numerous NCAA Division I schools, Hamilton also excelled at basketball and track, where he was a competitor at the VHSL state track meet.

After his high school football career ended, Hamilton decided to sign his letter of intent with Virginia Tech to play football. Playing under one of the most successful coaches in Frank Beamer, Hamilton received first hand knowledge of how a successful football program is ran. Receiving playing time at running back, wide receiver, defensive back and on special teams, Hamilton was a valuable contributor for the Virginia Tech program. Playing mostly on the defensive side of the ball, Hamilton had a unique opportunity to study under one of the most sought-after defensive coordinators in college football, Bud Foster. Foster, who consistently has Virginia Tech in the upper echelon of defensive statistics, provided a great example for Hamilton to essentially learn to coach as a player. After graduating from Virginia Tech, Hamilton became a member of the Cleveland Browns for two seasons before finishing his career as a Washington Redskin in 2008.

Coming to UVa-Wise to coach defense for the Cavaliers, Hamilton will bring his experience under renowned coaches like Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel and Redskins coach Jim Zorn to the table. A high energy coach who will bring experience and knowledge from the highest levels of football, the Cavaliers believe Hamilton will be able to share some of his experiences and strategy from the highest level of college and professional football and give UVa-Wise an edge going forward.

Hamilton resides in Wise, Virginia and is engaged to Brittany Waddell.

Coach Dewey Lusk, the former assistant coach and offensive coordinator, takes over as head coach for the UVa-Wise Cavaliers this fall. Beginning his seventh season as a Cavalier overall, Lusk will hope to continue the winning tradition laid forth by his predecessor, Bruce Wasem.

During his stint as the offensive coordinator, Lusk helped UVa-Wise become one of the most vaunted offensive juggernauts in NAIA football. The spread receiver, shotgun attack has become a staple across the football landscape now, but Coach Lusk had UVa-Wise running a no-huddle, four wide receiver-offense well before it became popular.  

The UVa-Wise offense finished fourth in the NAIA in scoring offense (41.4 ppg) while finishing second in the nation in pass efficiency (174.9) and total offense (477.5 yds./gm) in 2008.  The Cavs led the Mid-South East in scoring offense, pass efficiency and total offense that season.

Along with having the top total offense unit, Lusk saw quarter back Randy Hippeard lead the nation in total offense (339.9 yds./gm) and passing yards per game (330.6 yds./gm) for the 08 season

In 2009, UVa-Wise once again had an outstanding offense and the individual honors continued to roll in. Wide receiver Jason Lovett was named NAIA All-American, while quarterback Brad Robbins, wide receiver Matt Barbour, and lineman Brian Pisani were named Mid-South East All Conference. As a unit, the Cavaliers found the turf of Carl Smith Stadium to be friendly; the offense produced a near 30 points per game average at home.

Last season, the Cavaliers began implementing a new offensive philosophy of balance on the offensive side of the ball. UVa-Wise rushed for almost 1,800 yards last season, their highest single season total since 2007. While the passing totals dropped to an average of 163 yards per game, the rushing total increased to 163 yards per game, the highest total in four seasons.

The former offensive coordinator came to UVa-Wise after serving 14 years as an assistant coach to the now retired Emory & Henry College head coach Lou Wacker.  He was Coach Wacker's offensive coordinator and also served as the head baseball coach, where he produced more wins than any coach in school history. 

Lusk earned his bachelor's degree from Emory & Henry and master's degree from Gardner-Webb University, where he also served as an assistant coach.  The Christiansburg High School product graduated in 1981.

Coach Lusk is married to Mily Dover of Shelby, NC and they have two children, Gil, 19, and Landi, 17.