Former West Virginia University offensive assistant Chris Beatty will mentor Vanderbilt wide receivers in 2011. Beatty also serves as the team’s offensive recruiting coordinator.
For the last three years, Beatty served WVU in dual responsibilities as running backs/slot receivers coach and Director of Recruiting for the Mountaineers During that span, Beatty played a key role in guiding West Virginia to three straight bowl appearances.
In 2010, Beatty helped West Virginia to a 9-4 overall record, a Big East Conference co-championship, and an appearance in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. In 2009, WVU finished with a 9-4 mark after facing Florida State in the Gator Bowl. In 2008, the Mountaineers were also 9-4 and capped the season with a 31-30 victory over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Beatty mentored two of the most productive offensive players in Mountaineer football history: running back Noel Devine and slot receiver/return specialist Jock Sanders.
Devine rushed for more than 3,600 yards under Beatty’s guidance, and twice earning All-Big East Conference honors. The fleet-footed Devine concluded his Mountaineer career with more than 4,000 rushing yards, ranking fourth all-time in Big East Conference history. Devine also finished as West Virginia’s all-time leader in all-purpose yardage.
Sanders ranked as one of the Big East’s most productive receivers, catching 195 passes with Beatty as his mentor. Sanders concluded his career as West Virginia’s all-time leading receiver – and second all-time in the Big East. He also posted a reception in 41 consecutive games.
The Mountaineer rushing attack also ranked among the Big East’s best during all three of Beatty’s years with the program.
Beatty joined the West Virginia staff after the 2007 season mentoring running backs at Northern Illinois under former Huskie head coach Joe Novak. Beatty’s top pupil at Northern Illinois, sophomore Justin Anderson, rushed for 1,245 yards and eight touchdowns.
Beatty entered the collegiate coaching ranks at Hampton (Va.) University, helping the Pirates to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and appearance in the NCAA I-AA playoffs. As Hampton’s offensive coordinator and mentor to quarterbacks and receivers in 2006, Beatty guided the offense to the No. 7 ranking in scoring among NCAA I-AA teams with an average of 34.7 points per game. He also mentored three Hampton wide receivers that eventually played in the National Football League and two quarterbacks that earned playing time in the Canadian Football League.
Nine of Beatty’s former players have gone on to the NFL. He has also mentored 12 all-conference performers.
Prior to becoming a college coach, Beatty served successful tenures as a head coach at three Virginia high schools. Beatty guided Landstown High School to a superb 40-2 overall record from 2003-05, and captured the state 3A state championship behind eventual Florida Gators All-American Percy Harvin. All three of Beatty’s Landstown teams advanced to the 3A state title game.
Beatty’s two other Virginia high schools, North Stafford and Salem, combined for an 38-16 overall record from 1998-2002.
A native of Centreville, Va., Beatty was a standout wide receiver at East Tennessee State University, graduating in 1994 as the Bucs’ all-time leading receiver. An All-Southern Conference recipient in 1994, he played professionally for two Canadian Football League teams.
Beatty and his wife, Kristy, are the parents on a son, Aaron.
The Beatty File
Personal
Date of Birth – June 19, 1972
Hometown – Centreville, Va.
Education – Bachelor’s degree, East Tennessee State, 1995
Family – wife, Kristy; son, Aaron
Beatty[apos]s Coaching Career
2008-10 – West Virginia (running backs/slot receivers/Director of Recruiting)
2007 – Northern Illinois (running backs)
2006 – Hampton (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/wide receivers)
2003-05 – Landstown (Va.) HS (head coach)
2001-02 – Salem (Va.) HS (head coach)
1998-00 – North Stafford (Va.) HS (head coach)