On Tuesday, Virginia Tech and Brent Pry announced two support staff additions: Brian Crist was promoted to Senior Offensive Analyst, while Xavier Adibi was named a defensive analyst.
Crist, a Blacksburg native, spent the last two seasons on Virginia Tech's staff as an offensive analyst. Adibi, a former player from Hampton, Va., comes from Texas A&M - Commerce, where he was the defensive coordinator.
"Analysts by rule may observe the proceedings and interact with coaches," an August 2021 article by Evan Bland on Omaha.com states. "What they can’t do at those times is engage in any “coaching activities” with players. That includes skill instruction, strategy planning and participating in drills."
Brian Crist
Crist was a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech in 1994-95 at the same time as Brent Pry under Frank Beamer. Both were a part of the coaching staff on the 1995 Sugar Bowl team that defeated Texas. Crist returned to Blacksburg in 2020 and spent the last two seasons as an offensive analyst on Justin Fuente's staff.
Before coming back to Virginia Tech, Crist was an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach at Youngstown State for five seasons. Under Bo Pelini, he helped the Penguins reach the 2017 FCS National Championship game, where they lost to James Madison.
A Hampden-Sydney alum, he spent two seasons as the director of player personnel and an offensive assistant at Nebraska in 2014-15. Prior to that, he was the wide receivers coach at Bridgewater College in 2013.
Crist coached with Pry at Louisiana over the course of five seasons, too. From 2002-06, Crist was the wide receivers coach (and passing game coordinator from 2005-06) while Pry was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. The two won the 2005 Sun Belt Championship together. Crist tutored three of the top seven leading receivers in school history and had all-conference receivers in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
The other major stop for Crist in his career was at Massachusetts, where he had two stints. From 1996-2001, he was with the Minutemen for their 1998 FCS National Championship and three playoff appearances. Crist helped UMass won the Atlantic 10 in 1998 and 1999, and in his second stint from 2007-10, Crist was a part of the program that won the CAA in 2007.
Crist mentored former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz in his second stint at UMass. He finished fourth all-time in school history career catches with 131, and Cruz was a First Team All-CAA performer in 2008 and 2009. In the NFL, Cruz won Super Bowl XLVI (2011-12 season) with the Giants and made the Pro Bowl in 2012.
He is the son of David Crist, the former longtime head coach at Blacksburg High School. Brian Crist was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at his alma mater in 2012.
Xavier Adibi
Former Tech linebacker Xavier Adibi is back as a defensive analyst.
Adibi was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M - Commerce for the last three seasons. In 2021, his unit finished third in Division II in total defense and passing defense, allowing just 214.9 total yards and 116.9 passing yards per game. The Lions also had the fifth-best scoring defense in the country, allowing only 13.2 ppg.
In 2019, the defense led the Lone Star Conference in sacks per game (3.4). It also finished top-two in the league in a variety of statistics: Total defense (316.3 ypg), passing defense (193.8 ypg), rushing defense (122.5 ypg), red zone defense (69.8 pct.), defensive touchdowns scored (seven) and tackles for loss (113.0).
Safety Dominique Ramsey was a First Team All-America selection that season, and four members from Adibi's defense earned All-Region honors, while seven were All-Lone Star Conference performers.
Prior to his time at Texas A&M - Commerce, Adibi was a defensive analyst at Arkansas for the 2018 season.
A fan favorite from Phoebus High School, Adibi was the second linebacker in school history to earn All-America honors. He was a two-time All-ACC player and won two ACC Championships in his time in Blacksburg. In 2021, he was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
In four seasons from 2004-07, Adibi started 37 games in 43 appearances. He tallied 274 tackles, including 121 solo, and had 108 in his senior season in 2007. He had 29 career tackles for loss, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and eight interceptions. His 40-yard pick six in the 2007 ACC Championship Game sealed in the Hokies' 30-16 victory over Boston College.
After his playing career as a Hokie, Adibi was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. he played in the league for five seasons in multiple places: Houston, Minnesota, Chicago, and Tennessee.
Support Staff
With the additions of Crist and Adibi, Brent Pry has five members of his support staff. Crist brings 23 years of Division I coaching experience, while Adibi has just one - Arkansas in 2018 - though is a former NFL player.
The two join Dwight Galt IV, Mike Villagrana and Michael Hazel on Tech's support staff.
On Monday, Pry and the Hokies announced Tyler Bowen as the program's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.
For all stories pertaining to Virginia Tech's assistant coaches and support staff, click here.
