By Tim Tassa -- Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — Having lost both of his parents before he was 21 years old, Joe Jacoby wanted to influence the life of young football players the way his coaches did during a storied career.

Those men — amateur and professional — helped the four-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL's 1980s All-Decade team to keep an even keel.

Announced on Wednesday as a full-time volunteer assistant at Shenandoah University, the former Washington Redskins great will get the opportunity to impact the Hornets like Joe Gibbs, Joe Bugel and Jim Hanifan — to name a few — did for him.

Standing 6-foot-7, and appearing slimmer than his 300-plus-pound playing weight, the original "Hog" can share a thing or two about life in football's trenches, too.

"I want to be that person that somebody was there for me to keep me on that path and keep me level-headed and keep me straight. I just want to be that individual that helps one kid making those tough decisions, and if he's going through a tough time and stuff like that — just not on the field but off the field," said Jacoby, who retired from football in 1993.

"If I can be beneficial that's where I want to be at this point."

Besides raising his daughters, Jacoby joked, this is his first coaching gig since a brief one-year job at Liberty High School in 1996.

Presently living in Vienna, Jacoby, 49, embraced a business career involving the ownership of a car dealership in Warrenton and has been an analyst on Redskins radio broadcasts. He said he's been fortunate to have the opportunity to watch his two daughters grow up.

But in the spring, realizing his thirst for the game, Jacoby sought coaching jobs from "the NFL on down" and approached Shenandoah head coach Paul Barnes.

Barnes was made aware of Jacoby's interest by a mutual friend who said Jacoby fit the character values Barnes covets on his staff.

"I think things work in mysterious ways. I think the good Lord put him in our path. He wanted to get into coaching; he wanted to help young men," Barnes said.

"I don't think you're going to find a better character coaching staff who wants to help young men so much and be a molder of men than we have. I think he brings that to the table, too."

Jacoby reiterated his interest to Barnes during the summer and the deal was finalized. Jacoby, who played in 170 NFL games and was part of three Super Bowl championships for Washington, will work with Barnes and 2008 graduate Nick Oakley along the offensive line.

Jacoby, who expressed excitement over Wednesday's check-in date for players, said he does not expect any to remember his playing days. But Barnes believe his reputation is enough to reinforce the ideas and techniques they teach.

"He will help us not only scheme-wise and technique-wise, but in other situations ," said Barnes, who is in his seventh season as head coach. "And we can help him because he's never been in a coaching aspect and he's looking forward to it. I think it's a win-win situation."

Since Aug. 1, Jacoby has worked with the staff in structuring the offense and implementing the schedule. He said he has a grasp of the team's pass-blocking and run-blocking schemes, and said Barnes is open and flexible to everyone's input.

Jacoby has already installed "eye-opening" facets of the game, Oakley said, calling them "eureka" moments when dealing with Xs and Os, solutions to defensive techniques or simple details.

"I think he's incredibly intelligent in the game of football — thoroughly impressed by how he's taken on the job," Oakley said. "I'm extremely excited that he's here and be able to share his expertise with us."

Jacoby is unsure of his future coaching aspirations, but he has gathered advice from his many former peers — some who have told him that he's taken "too many hits to the head," he joked.

"This opportunity is probably the best opportunity at this point for me to get back into the game and start learning from the other side of the ball and the coaching aspect and working with kids," Jacoby said.

*Contact Tim Tassa at ttassa@nvdaily.com