Virgil Petty joined the Wayne State football coaching staff in the summer of 2008 as an assistant coach working with the running backs.

He was a varsity assistant coach and junior varsity coach in 2007 at South Lake High School.

As a collegian, he competed in both football and track for Albion College of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). He holds AC records for touchdowns and rushing touchdowns in a game (5 - October 11, 1997 vs. Olivet), points in a season (126 in 1997), touchdowns and rushing touchdowns in a season (21 in 1997). Petty also rushed for 1,111 yards in 1997.

In track for the Britons, he competed in the 1997 Division III National Championship in the 100m (10.76) and at the 1999 MIAA track championship, Petty won the 100m (for the fourth consecutive year) and was also a member of the 4x100m championship relay quartet.

Following graduation he was employed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and also did volunteer work with the Detroit Omega Foundation Inc. (DOFI).

A native of Haslett, he earned his bachelor's degrees in speech communication and theatre in 1999 from Albion.