Lynchburg, VA -- Liberty University has named Danny Rocco its new head football coach.

Rocco had spent the past five seasons at Virginia, where he was the associate head coach and linebackers coach. This will be his first head coaching position.

"Danny Rocco is a perfect fit for Liberty University in every way," said Liberty chancellor and president Reverend Jerry Falwell in making the announcement. "Liberty is fortunate to have him. Coach Rocco is one of more than 20 NCAA Division I football coaches who expressed an interest in this position, which is a tremendous endorsement of the potential for Liberty's football program. I firmly believe Coach Rocco can lead Liberty in reaching its goal of becoming a dominant Division I-AA program and then moving up to Division I-A, all within the next decade."

Liberty is coming off a 1-10 season, losing each of its last 10 games.

Rocco will take over for Ken Karcher, who guided the Flames to a record of 21-46 in his six seasons as head coach.