J.C. Price joined ETSU's coaching staff in March 2026 as the Bucs' new Defensive Line Coach. Price comes to ETSU after two-plus decades in the coaching ranks, including the last four as Virginia Tech's Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach.
As VT's Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach over the last four season seasons, Price helped coach several standout players for the Hokies. Under the direction of Price, Antwaun Powell-Ryland had a banner season in 2024. Powell-Ryland registered 16 sacks, ranking tied for second in the ACC and third in the FBS, and was a two-time ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week. He became Virginia Tech’s first player to eclipse double-digit sacks during a season since 2005. On Sept. 14 at Old Dominion, Powell-Ryland recorded four solo sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during Virginia Tech’s 37-13 win ... was named the Walter Camp National FBS Player of the Week and Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week. On Oct. 17, Powell-Ryland registered his second four-sack performance of the season during Virginia Tech’s 42-21 win against Boston College, also making seven solo tackles (matching his career high). His 19 TFLs are the most by a Tech player since 2002, and ranked second in the ACC. APR made All-ACC First Team and was a national semifinalist for the Lombardi Trophy, the Bednarik Award, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year. He won the Dudley Award as the top FBS player in the Commonwealth of Virginia, becoming the first Hokie to claim the honor since 2011. Price also mentored Aeneas Peebles who led all ACC defensive tackles and ranked fifth in the nation at his position with 35 pressures. Peebles was named All-ACC First Team in 2024. Both Peebles and Powell-Ryland were invited to the NFL Combine. Peebles played in the Reese's Senior Bowl while Powell-Ryland played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. In 2023, Powell-Ryland led the Hokies with nine and a half sacks, ranking second in the ACC, tied for 14th in the country. As a unit, Price's line recorded 55 tackles for loss during the 2023 season. A team captain and a third-team All-America selection for the Hokies as a senior in 1995, Price returned to Blacksburg as co-defensive line coach/defensive recruiting coordinator in 2021. On November 16, 2021, he was named as the Hokies' interim head coach.
The Dunkirk, Maryland native returned to his alma mater after spending nine seasons at Marshall University, serving as co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach (2019-20). Price was named the Conference USA Recruiter of the Year in 2015, Price was part of seven Marshall squads that earned bowl berths, the 2014 Conference USA championship, as well three C-USA East Division titles. Marshall led the nation in scoring defense (13.0 ppg) in 2020, while ranking second in total defense (279.4 ypg), fourth in rushing defense (95.5 ypg) and 11th in pass defense (183.9 ypg) en route to a berth in the Conference USA Championship Game.  The Herd earned bowl appearances in each of Price’s final four seasons at Marshall. The 2018 defense ranked eighth in the nation, racking up 42.0 sacks. Price was named The Conference USA Recruiter of the Year by Scout.com for his contribution to the Thundering Herd’s 2016 recruiting class. Marshall’s 2015 squad went 10-3 and finished the season with a St. Petersburg Bowl win as the defense totaled 30.0 sacks and 101 QB hurries. Price helped develop DT Jarquez Samuel into an All-Conference USA second-team selection. The Herd won the 2014 Conference USA title, finishing the season with a 13-1 record with their only setback coming in a 67-66 OT loss vs. Western Kentucky (11/28/14). Marshall’s defense racked up 38.0 sacks that season to tie for 16th among FBS squads. With Price coaching Marshall’s defensive tackles, The Herd went 10-4 in 2013 and reached the Conference USA Championship Game. Â
Price joined Marshall after an eight-season stint at James Madison University (2004-11). The Dukes won the 2004 FCS National Championship and made the FCS Playoffs on four other occasions during his tenure. Among notable star pupils at JMU, Price coached DE Arthur Moats who won the Buck Buchanan Award in 2009 as the nation’s top FCS defensive player before enjoying a successful eight-year NFL career. Thanks to Price’s defensive line, JMU led the nation in sacks twice (2004, 2006) and finished in the top three 10 times. The Dukes’ 57.0 sacks in 2004 were a single-season FCS record. JMU produced an FCS-best 47.0 sacks in 2006.
During his tenure as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech (2002-03), Price worked hands on with future NFL performers such as DE Darryl Tapp and DT Jonathan Lewis.Â
As a player, Price was a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 1996 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals in 1996-97 where his defensive line coach was Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Joe Greene before a back injury curtailed his playing career. Before his professional career began, Price was a four-year starter at Virginia Tech. He was a team captain on the 1995 BIG EAST championship team. After beginning that 1995 season with an 0-2 record, the Hokies rattled off 10 straight wins culminating with a 28-10 win vs. Texas in the Sugar Bowl. In his final season as a player in Blacksburg, Price earned third-team All-America honors from AP following the 1995 season, as well as first-team All-BIG EAST honors after recording 104 tackles and a team-high 15.0 TFL, as well as 8.0 sacks. In Price’s final three seasons, Tech went 27-9 with two bowl wins. Overall, Price played in 41 career games for the Hokies, finishing his career with 256 tackles (125 solo), 30.0 TFL and 17.0 sacks (-118.0 yards). Before coming to Virginia Tech, Price was a second-team All-Metro selection by the Washington Post as a senior at Northern High School. Was named the Calvert County’s most outstanding athlete and was the conference player of the year. He also played center on his prep basketball squad that was the state runner-up.
Price is married to the former Jenny Root, who was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. A standout for the women’s basketball program, her 1,582 career points still rank as the fifth-highest total in Hokies’ history.
