The Virginia offensive line will be led by a familiar face in 2026, with head coach Tony Elliott elevating senior offensive analyst Joey Orck to offensive line coach. Orck arrived at the University of Virginia in January 2022 as a part of Elliott’s original staff at Virginia, serving an offensive analyst for the ‘Hoos in 2022 and 2023 and was elevated to senior offensive analyst for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Terry Heffernan, Virginia’s offensive line coach from 2022 to 2025, is returning to Stanford as first year head coach Tavita Pritchard’s offensive coordinator. Heffernan had coached the Cardinal offensive line from 2021 to 2022 under head coach David Shaw.
Prior to Virginia, Orck coached for 9 years at Presbyterian College, initially coaching the offensive line and was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2018. The Blue Hose offense under Orck saw significant success, only allowing 5 sacks in 2018 and achieving the 20th best passing offense in the FCS in 2021. Orck’s coaching career began at Vanderbilt, where he assisted the offensive staff for five years as a Quality Control Assistant and Graduate Assistant Coach in Nashville. During his playing career, Orck lettered in football four times at Presbyterian as a center and was named a captain his senior year.
Orck will be coaching a talented and experienced offensive line room in Charlottesville. The 2025 offensive line was a massive part of Virginia’s breakout campaign that saw the ‘Hoos win 11 games for the first time in program history. The offensive line also saw arguably Virginia’s biggest win of the offseason, with only a single departure to the transfer portal, reserve tackle Tyshawn Wyatt. Virginia will be returning all three 2025 starters with NCAA eligibility remaining: Tackle McKale Boley, Guard Noah Josey, and Guard/Center Drake Metcalf.
With Center Brady Wilson and Tackle Jack Witmer out of NCAA eligibility, two open positions on the offensive line will give 2025 contributors like Ben York and Noah Hartsoe a chance to compete for playing time alongside highly touted transfers Makilan Thomas and Monroe Mills, who suffered injuries prior to the 2025 season.
General manager Tyler Jones further strengthened the offensive line room with the addition of former 4-star Southern California tackle Alex Payne, who will be adding to the talent on the offensive line and will compete for playing time in Charlottesville. Orck will also be tasked with the development of high school signees Dylan Biehl, Luke Hatfield, and Michael Gildea.
Tony Elliott’s staff at Virginia has been one of the most stable in all of college football, and Orck’s promotion to offensive line coach represents continued continuity for the Cavaliers. Orck has worked with many of Virginia’s offensive linemen for multiple seasons through his work as an offensive analyst and carries a deep understanding of offensive coordinator Des Kitching’s offense.
With Virginia looking to follow up on arguably the greatest season in Cavalier football history, the offensive line will be a critical piece for the ‘Hoos. Key Virginia additions Beau Pribula and Peyton Lewis give Virginia a chance to be explosive and highly competitive in 2026, but the axiom “Games are won in the trenches” will always hold true. Joey Orck will attempt to continue to build upon the great work Terry Heffernan did with the ‘Hoos offensive line, and help the Cavaliers continue their ascent in the college football world.
