Shane Beamer is expected to join the staff. (UPDATED, It's Official.)

BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer announced Monday that longtime assistant Billy Hite has been elevated to a new administrative position as assistant to the head coach and senior advisor, and that Shane Beamer will join the Tech coaching staff and assume Hite’s on-field duties as running backs coach.

“Over the years, I’ve had great confidence in Billy’s judgment and advice,” Beamer said. “I appreciate the fact that I will continue to be able to rely on him in this regard. He will continue to be a valuable part of our football program and will be a real asset working with our alumni and former players in different ways.”

Hite, who has served as the Hokies’ running backs coach for the past 33 seasons, joined the Tech staff under former coach Bill Dooley in 1978. He remained on the staff when Beamer took over in 1987 and was named to the position as assistant head coach by Beamer the following year. He was promoted to the position of associate head coach in December 2000.

Hite has been on the sidelines for more Virginia Tech football games than any other coach and has helped produce nine of the Hokies’ top 11 career rushing leaders. The Hokies have averaged nearly 200 yards per game (195.0) over a 398-game span under Hite and developed 26 running backs who have gone on to sign with NFL teams, a number that is expected to grow with this spring’s draft.

“I would like to thank Coach Beamer and the athletic and university administrators for 33 great years as a coach at Virginia Tech,” Hite said. “I also want to thank all the people who are giving me the opportunity for this new challenge. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Shane Beamer comes to Virginia Tech after spending four seasons on the University of South Carolina’s coaching staff, coaching the Spurs and strong safeties for two seasons after coaching the outside linebackers in 2007 and the cornerbacks in 2008. He also served as the special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the Gamecocks’ program.

“I think we are fortunate to get Shane to come back to Virginia Tech,” coach Frank Beamer said. “He has had the opportunity to develop a good background, having coached at Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Mississippi State and South Carolina.”

Shane Beamer’s first class as the recruiting coordinator (2009) for the Gamecocks was ranked as the nation’s 12th-best class by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. South Carolina’s 2010 class included running back Marcus Lattimore, the No. 10 player in the country according to Rivals.com, and the 2011 class was highlighted by Jadeveon Clowney, the consensus No. 1 player in the nation.

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to return to Virginia Tech,” the younger Beamer said. “I’ve been gone 11 years and during that time I’ve been around a number of great coaches and great programs and had the opportunity to learn a lot. Now, I look forward to returning to Blacksburg and helping Virginia Tech continue to win championships.

“I’m also excited to have the opportunity to be around Coach Hite. I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for him and I welcome the chance to learn from him.”

Prior to his stint at South Carolina, Beamer spent the previous three seasons at Mississippi State University, where he coached the defensive backs his first two seasons and the running backs in his final year, and was the recruiting coordinator all three seasons. Beamer went to MSU from the University of Tennessee, where he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant helping with the defensive backs; coaching the place-kickers, punters and long snappers; and assisting in all special teams areas. Beamer worked one season (2000) as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech, helping with the Yellow Jacket quarterbacks and wide receivers.

Beamer earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in 1999 and was the Hokies’ starting long snapper for three seasons. He also contributed as a wide receiver. He played on four bowl teams and three Big East Conference championship squads. He concluded his college playing career by helping the 1999 Hokies to a No. 2 final regular-season ranking and a berth in the national championship game played against Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.

http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20110214aab.html