New outside linebackers coach Victor Cabral is not like every other coach in America.
He understands the person he wants to be, while relationships have helped him get to where he is with West Virginia, while also being the foundation for his coaching style.
This offseason, West Virginia had a need. They wanted to get more production to get after the quarterback and in they Brough Victor Cabral.
Cabral had served as the defensive line coach at Appalachian State in 2023. Now, he makes the jump to West Virginia where he is quite familiar with many members of WVU’s current coaching staff.
“I’ve known those guys for al long time since their days at Troy. When I was at Samford, we used to go down there and visit with them, we used to work camps together,” Cabral said of WVU’s coaches. “I’ve always respected what coach [Jordan] Lesley and coach [Neal] Brown, and coach Moore, the o-line coach, I just thought the world of them.”
Cabral added he recognized what was happening in Morgantown, seeing the work that many were putting in to help right the ship.
“The vision of this program and what it means to this state and just the position that we’re in here, to continue the climb,” Cabral said. “You know the energy, and you know the message that coach is giving. These guys that are playing, they’re a lot of fun to be around. They put a lot of work and time into it, so they’re all just trying to do their best.”
As far as how Cabral ended up being so successful in this profession and at WVU, it all comes back to relationships.
Back when both Cabral and WVU defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley were in the Sun Belt, they had recruiting battles against one another. Lesley said he always tried to get an edge, and whenever he was at somewhere, like a wrestling tournament, Cabral would also be trying to find that same edge.
“When people ask me about hiring Vic, we coached and recruited against each other in the Sun Belt. As a position recruiter, especially your first couple years of your career at whatever the next-highest level is, you’re really, really, out there, you’re trying to find an edge,” Lesley said.
“One thing that stuck out to me is everywhere I thought I was by myself, that guy walked in. Saturday morning wrestling tournaments or everybody I had to fight for, I had to fight against him in recruiting and that told me all I needed to know in recruiting.”
As for how Cabral is on the field, Lesley said he worked plenty of camps and what made Cabral stand out as a candidate was the trust built and the energy he had when they worked together.
“And then on the flip side of that is working camps, and clinics, and things, and I’ve been around him on the grass, which was probably the difference between everybody else that was being considered. I’ve been on the field with him and the energy he brings,” Lesley said. “And I just always look at a guys’ production in their unit. Everywehre he’s been, his unit has been productive, in an area we need improvement. All those things, for me, it was a perfect hire.”
For Cabral, what matters most is the person behind the helmet. It’s how they are treated and loved off the field.
“The first thing I did was I called up all the player that was in the group and I want them to know who I am and what I’m about and how I want them to be great. That’s all I want for them,” Cabral said. “I don’t believe in tough love, I think love is love, and time is love and you got to love them up and that’s good, and bad, and ugly. I really hadn’t had a chance to catch my breath yet, but I knew in this business, in this profession, it’s a people business. We still have to be servant minded for these players. We’ve got to give them everything we’ve got.”
The relationship Cabral had with Lesley was able to help him get this new role with the Mountaineers. Cabral said there is always respect amongst coaches, but not always the willingness to work with each other. He said him and Lesley became good friends and he would continuously check up on Lesley and how he was doing.
“I’m about people. Going back to Coach Lesley, me and him have always been really good friends first. We would always check up on us, I”m always going to figure out how my past guys that I respect and care about, how they’re doing week-to-week,” Cabral said.
Cabral has been at WVU since January, but already understands what this team means to this state and vice versa.
“It’s not a directional school. It’s one of those deals, where there’s an incredible amount of pride that revolves around this area and it really shows with the guys on the team, they take a bunch of pride in it,” Cabral said. “I think us as coaches, I try to get inundated with the culture around here, because that’s what I think separates us from a lot of different guys, it’s more than just tradition. Nowadays with NIL and all that, you’ve got to have some kind of foundation and this place has it. It’s awesome.”
As Cabral continues to get comfortable throughout his first year at WVU, one thing that won’t change is his high energy approach on the field. Cabral said that he owes so much to the game of football, therefore he tries to give a lot back through his energy on the field.
“I’ve been known as a high energy guy for a long time. I had to overcome talent, so I did that with excitement, even as a player. Everything that I have, I owe it to this game, honestly. I met my wife, I got two degrees from it, got my profession, took me out of where I grew up, I was the first person in my family to ever go to college and I owe it to the game and I owe it to my coaches that helped me get to this point,” Cabral said.
“So, I have to bring that every single day and that’s the energy I bring, that’s my why. I love my guys, I love my family and all that stuff, but this game has given me so much and that’s why I come out with as much energy as I can. I’m going to be wrong a lot of times and I’ll probably say some stuff I shouldn’t say, but it comes from the right place. Everyone’s a little different, but that’s who I am.
No matter the amount of energy or time spent, Cabral recognizes the journey to get him to this point. He also understands that there is still the same goal no matter what — to win.
“At the end of the day, we all want to win. We all want to win and we all want to be great for this football team and these great fans. Whatever it takes to do that, we’re going to do,” Cabral said.
Photo by Wesley Shoemaker, Blue Gold Sports
