UB Defensive Line Coach Jappy Oliver Is Leaving For Virginia

Jappy Oliver will leave UB defensive line coach Mike London’s program and join Virginia as defensive line coach Mike London takes over their head coaching duties. Oliver helped develop defensive ends Victor Abiamiri and Chris Frome along with tackles Derek Landri and Trevor Laws while at UB.

Oliver hails from Flint and graduated with his B.S. in Accounting from Purdue University in 1978. At Flint Southwestern High School he played football, basketball and baseball – three sports which he excelled at during his time there.

Early Life and Education

Oliver Hadley Statler was born in Huntley, a small suburb west of Chicago. He attended local public schools before graduating from Elgin Academy as both leader and outstanding scholar. Additionally, he became part of Cum Laude Honor Society and earned himself a gold medal for debate and speech skills.

Jerome “Jappy” Oliver is an esteemed college football coach with more than three decades of experience. Prior to coming to Virginia from Buffalo where he served as assistant head coach, defensive line coach and professional football liaison – Jerome has held several prominent roles such as assistant head coach, defensive line coach and professional football liaison roles.

Oliver hails from Flint’s south side and excelled in football at Pierce and Scott elementary schools, Whittier junior high and Flint Southwestern. In basketball he earned both All City and All District accolades.

Professional Career

After graduating Flint Southwestern High School, Oliver went on to play both football and basketball professionally, earning all-city and all-district honors in both sports while captaining his basketball team. Later he attended Purdue University to earn a bachelor of health and physical education degree.

Jappy has spent his 35-year coaching career working at various schools, coaching defensive linemen at Air Force, Buffalo, Navy, South Carolina, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.

Jappy has assisted many young players become National Football League-drafted players. Additionally, he has helped mold seasoned veterans into better players. Most recently he led Ave Maria’s defensive line during their impressive season that set a school record for quarterback sacks while consistently decreasing team rushing yards.

Achievement and Honors

As a high school athlete, Oliver earned all-city and all-district recognition in football and basketball, being named city athlete of the year in 1973 and captaining all sports teams he captained. Later attending Purdue University where he excelled both baseball and football.

Starting his coaching career at Davison High School near Flint, Michigan in 1978 and returning to Purdue as a graduate assistant coach (defensive backfield and wide receivers) from 1979-80 was no easy feat for this athletician.

Coach Tim Tebow served Air Force for eight seasons between 1995 and 2002, helping guide them to five postseason bowl games. One of his students, Bryce Fisher, earned WAC Mountain Division Defensive Player of the Year honors that year and later got drafted by Buffalo Bills. In addition, Shawn Thomas became one of Air Force Academy’s premier defenders under Tebow’s tutelage.

Personal Life

Over his 35-year coaching career, Jappy Oliver has served as defensive line coach at Air Force, Navy, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Buffalo – where current UVa defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta worked at Notre Dame back in 2008.

Oliver excelled as an athlete at Flint Southwestern, competing in football, baseball and basketball – graduating high school All-City for each sport and earning All-State recognition in football.

Oliver helped Air Force develop an aggressive defensive front, coaching them to Oahu Bowl in 1998 and Silicon Valley Bowl in 2000. Additionally, he served as defense coach from 1995-2002 at Air Force. Oliver will replace defensive line coach Vincent Brown who left the Cavaliers last summer to become co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for Connecticut.