There are two big questions currently surrounding Virginia Tech football, the first being how long Frank Beamer will remain as head coach. When asked at ACC Media Days, the 67-year-old responded, "I'd say as long as I've got a good quarterback, a good kicker and my health is good, I'm enjoying what I'm doing and feel like I wanna do it a few more years."
The second question is who will replace him when he does step down or get fired as some people believe he should. For as little as we know about the length of Frank's tenure, we know less about who will be his successor. In order to get a better idea of who the man in charge on the field will be post-Beamer, it's important to look at the new man in charge off the field, Whit Babcock.
It's not a secret that Virginia Tech athletics as a whole has gotten a makeover with the hiring of Whit Babcock. In his short tenure, he has made the necessary financial commitments to the revenue sports to ensure national relevance as well as reenergized a fan base hungry to get back to national prominence.
The most telling thing he's done so far is hiring basketball coach Buzz Williams. It showed that he is willing to step outside of the Virginia Tech bubble of coaches to hire someone who has won in the past and committed to winning in the future. He was also able to lure the great Tommy Tuberville to the University of Cincinnati, a school with next to no relevance in college football which echoes his sentiment from Buzz's first press conference. ""I think any time you can get a proven coach who's been successful at the highest levels, you want to take that shot..."
Under Jim Weaver, this simply did not exist and that breath of fresh air completely reenergized a program that had lost games and fan support. If Weaver was still AD, the question of who will succeed Beamer would be between his son Shane Beamer and legendary defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Now there is the distinct possibility of an outside hire.
However, there is one thing that throws a large wrench into the problem. While the most discussed changes to the football team came at the end of the 2012 season when Beamer parted ways with two offensive coaches and the demotion of another, the most important happened the year before when Shane came aboard.
The wildly successful recruiter returned to Blacksburg as running backs coach and associate head coach, a fact that was snuck quietly into the announcement.
That should mean that as of this moment, Shane Beamer has more power than Foster despite having played under him from 1995-1999. After all, he did go out for the hand shake after the Military Bowl victory.
The popular belief among Hokie Nation is that Foster will be the next head coach. I would be inclined to agree with that if it weren't for the current title of the younger Beamer and Babcock's tendency to go with a proven winner. Foster has put in the work to become head coach but his lack of head coaching experience despite actively pursuing jobs at Clemson and Pittsburgh just to name a couple is worrisome.
The same exact thing can be said about Shane, though, which lends quite a bit of credence to the notion that Babcock will again look outside the Virginia Tech family of coaches. The question is whether or not the Board of Visitors, University President Timothy Sands and Frank Beamer will allow him to do that. Hokie football has been a family affair since the 1990s, a period which saw the rise of the program and it's lone shot at a national championship. And this fact is certainly not lost on fans.
Ultimately, though, the job will most likely boil down to Bud Foster and an outside candidate for two reasons. First of all, Shane's age and pedigree will allow him to get some head coaching experience at another school. He was already a finalist for the head coaching position at Florida Atlantic University. At that rate, odds are good he will be off the staff by the time Frank retires anyway barring unforeseen circumstances. Secondly, Whit was able to come in and decisively make a decision about the basketball program. It is not a reach to say that he can or will reshuffle the pecking order in the football program to accommodate for a slightly more proven coach in Foster.
The college football coaching carousel changes yearly so it would be nearly impossible to predict who will be available in even two years' time. The most likely external candidate would be Duke's David Cutcliffe who already has a great relationship with Beamer. With his recent success, Cutcliffe is getting the better recruits to sign up to come to Durham for football, including 4-star recruits from Virginia. The only thing that could even be considered more impressive recruiting-wise is the job Mark Stoops has done at Kentucky. Other theoretical names to consider would be former Florida Atlantic head coach and current Alabama assistant Mario Cristobal and San Fransisco 49ers offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton who nearly became the Hokies' offensive coordinator a couple years ago. After those guys, the list includes a bunch of super stretch candidates that either have no reason to leave their school or don't have the necessary qualifications of an national program looking to get back to its glory days.
There are no terrible options out of any of the coaches listed above, including Bud Foster and Shane Beamer. The question is whether or not Whit Babcock is willing to take a risk on the unproven Foster or stick with his tried and true method of established coaches. And that question cannot be answered by anyone other than Whit.
Comments
Hahaha my point in posting this isn't to stir the fire Beamer crowd but more critically look to the future without him regardless of how we get there
I've said it before and I'll say it again. If it's not Bud we raise the militia.
Not hiring Bud would be a swift kick to the balls. I understand that there may be some younger, flashy names as possible candidates, but they're not Bud.
Love Bud to death, but I personally don't think he could be a good head coach.
Why not? Not trolling, honestly asking what you see (or don't see) in him that would prevent him from being a good head coach?
Just my opinion, but he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that wants to put up with all the things that come along with being a college head coach. Talking to and glad handing the boosters, recruiting, dealing with the AD. Hes basically the anti Mack Brown
A really good coach who is better than most expect will replace Frank. Yes, I think that includes Bud, who I have no doubt would be a great head coach for us.
BUD.
We could have our own Harbaugh situation.
Except we haven't all read about how much the locker room dislikes Arians. Because he's managed success without being a huge dick.
I meant something more along the lines of a "Accomplished NFL coach returns to his alma mater" sort of situation and completely ignoring the push factors that affected Harbaugh.
Oh, is it already time for this thread again? Well in that case, Bud. Peoples only real knock against him is that he's not polished in interviews. Well, let me tell you, that coach right there, he interviews his nuts off. But honestly who cares about that? The national championship is for playing football, not media days. And Bud can coach.
Zombie Frank Beamer.
That is all.
Complete waste of time because we don't know who will be available and interested when that time comes. Let's deal in absolutes. Go to the scrimmage tomorrow and share your thoughts about the progress of the on the field product.
Isn't wasting time what we do here?
The staff here at TKP, they put in hours of blood, sweat, and tears so that this site can be as comprehensive and detailed as it is.
We, the rank and file, just waste time here.
Y'll speak for yourselves. If I considered this a waste of my time, I sure wouldn't be clicking, reading, voting and commenting.
Edit: I was not speaking of this thread, but the stupid time I spend on TKP, and I know the "waste of time" comments after French's were in jest. I upvoted French's comments because I agree with him about speculating who will succeed Frank. My waste of time comment comes on the heels of an admonishment from my spousal unit about getting off the damn internet and getting outside to do yard work. One man's waste...
I lost a few hours' worth of writing and grading by clicking through TKP while in the office and at home.
I regret nothing.
These threads pop up and aren't always the best. Hope it gets picked up as something where people don't get defensive but consider this as what names Whit Babcock has in his back pocket for whenever Frank decides to retire. I'd figure every good AD needs to have a list of a couple of names in mind they'd have as full back options if their major revenue sports head coaches were to leave and I'm sure that list changes often.
If I was Whit my thinking would be that first off I want a coach that sees Bud Foster as an asset (big commitment to Bud with the contract extension) and thus believe that it's likely an offensive guy. Whit has worked hard to have better operations around recruiting with the staff now in place and various operations to bring in modern times recruiting (vtfootball snapchat account is awesome btw) so I think Whit wants a head coach that will recruit hard.
Based on that thinking here's a couple of my top guys:
1) By a longshot Pep Hamilton would be the best candidate in my mind but also there's some question around if he would take a college head coach job. Pep Hamilton was allegedly one of Beamer's top choice for OC a few years back but ended up turning down VT. Pep Hamilton is the current OC for the Colts where even though he has Andrew Luck he has installed an offense that establishes the run and was #1 in the NFL for part of the year even though their OL and RB left a lot to be desired. He was a strong recruiter in Northern VA when he was an OC at Stanford getting guys Alex Carter and Kevin Hogan. He has strong ties to the areas VT needs to draw from having grown up in Charlotte and playing QB at Howard in DC.
In my mind the big problem is if he would take a college job but it was reported by Bruce Felder that he interviewed for the Vandy job and was offered before ultimately declining, VT is a lot better job than Vandy. Pep interviewed with a lot of NFL teams this past offseason for a HC with no luck, maybe that could play into Pep not wanting to wait around the NFL head coaching carousel again and take the VT job if it was available at the end of the year.
2) Rich Rod makes sense because he's an offensive head coach with ties to the east and connection to Whit Babcock because of both being at West Virginia at the same time. Think this would be a hard sell to the fans but he could win and recruit. This would make the 2017 guy against WVU insane. I think Rich Rod would take the job in a heartbeat, a lot better recruiting base and easier path to success than at Arizona.
3) Rhett Lashlee I think is an extremely intriguing name as a up and comer offensive coordinator. I would've had Chad Morris or Mike Bobo in this spot before but both are new HCs with bigger buyouts right now that likely wouldn't be available for a couple of years. Rhett Lashlee comes from an SEC program and has an exciting style of offense from learning under Gus Malzahn since HS. He's a good recruiter as well.
4) Putting in a wild card of Scott Frost. He has no ties to anywhere east of the Mississippi but comes from that Oregon culture that Chip Kelly installed out there. Would be awesome to have that Oregon offense with VA athletes, the buzz would be crazy. Seems to be a well respected guy who won a college national championship as a starting QB for Nebraska then played on defense in the NFL as a safety for a few years.
I'm hoping after a couple of years pass Chad Morris is a viable option. I like Bud, but Chad leading the helm with bud as DC would be a nice combo. I just think the Bud for HC camp is going to sorely disappointed because there are a lot of major donors who influence decisions who don't like Bud.
I really doubt Rich Rod would be a candidate. With him being a WVU alum, I really can't seem him hurting his alma mater again. Also, when he took the Arizona job, I recall him saying that he and his wife wanted to be somewhere warm.
If not Bud Foster, then I hope its someone that understands that VT football was successful because of a strong defense. The first name that comes to my mind is Todd Grantham.
It's really hard to predict at this point for many reasons and since we are not Mr. Babcock, we do not have access to his shortlist, and since our speculation will probably not have any impact on the search when it does happen, its best to not worry about this topic.
This Georgia grad student does not want Grantham anywhere near Blacksburg.
Now that I've looked into it some more, Grantham had some mixed results in Georgia. He did inherit an already good Louisville D, but still was able to have success despite switching the scheme. Any other reason why you might not want him?
For as much defensive talent as UGA had in the four years before he went to Louisville, he sure didn't get expected results. He was like the negative Bud in that the defense should have been much better.
Because of that, there were no tears shed in Athens once it was announced that he was headed further north. Contrast that with a collective "oh crap" once the news broke that Mike Bobo was on his way to Colorado State.
Wait, when did a Tommy Tuberville become great?
Before he got fired at Auburn and led TTU to mediocre seasons.
So we should hire the great gene chizik. Done.
My exact thoughts, word for word.
Can we clear this up once and for all? This is a common misunderstanding that comes up every time the "Beamer Successor" conversation does.
Associate head coach does not mean that Shane outranks Loeffler or Bud. Take a look at their salaries. All it means is that Shane assumes the role of head coach if Frank is out of commission. If Frank can't coach, it creates more staff instability to have Coordinator -> Head coach and Position -> Coordinator than it does to have Position-> Head coach.
Most of the "coaching" on a game day is down by position coaches and coordinators. The Head Coaches responsibilities mostly consist on deciding which units go on the field (go for two or one, punt or not, receive or defer) and even these decisions are usually made pre-game when overall strategies are mapped out. You don't want to be making the decision on whether to go for two when down by 9 with 11 minutes to go in the heat of the moment Saturday night, you want to have that debate as a staff in the coaching room on a Thursday afternoon.
(There are exceptions to the head coaching role, mostly for North Korea-esque coaching dictatorships like the Paul Johnson cartel... he still yells playcalls into a player's ear and sends them running into the huddle like it's 1983)
So you mean that Shane took the empty position that was made available when Billy Hite, the former RB coach and associate head coach, was moved? You don't say?!
What about the scenario where Frank quits right before the season and Shane, the associate head coach takes charge and has a great season. It would be hard to depose Shane after that.
And then they could meet in a Hell in the Cell at Wrestlemania.
I pity the fool that goes up against Shane. He Crazy!
I would suggest keeping an eye on Mark Richt from Georgia. Guy knows how to win and recruit. But is rumored to be fed up with the BS in the SEC. Has also repeatedly gone after Bud and obviously respects him.
One of the few guys I think that could come in amd upgrade the O but also possibly retain Bud. Plus hiring a HC from the SEC would send a msjor message that Whit and VT are serious about winning a title.
I think that would've have been a possibility before Mark Richt got his contract extension this year.
Do we know if Bud WANTS to be head coach? I know there was a time a long time ago when he said he might consider leavin for a D1 coaching position, but anything since he has been linked with (A&M) is the same role. At this point in his career/life he might prefer DC to HC. I think Shane did a great job in the bowl game FWIW and is a young energetic presence who can delegate. Bud could be DC and if not, Torrian?
I would say emphatically, "Yes!" Bud has said in interviews that he treated his first sit-down meeting with Whit as a de facto job interview where he stated his desire to be the next head coach and laid out his plans for how he would run things.
He told me he did.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2014/august/19/beyond-pail-day-virgini...
#FRENCH4COACH
I'm drunk and BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUD.
and I'm hungover and bud.
sober as a judge and still....BUD.
Realistic: Bud
Long-Shot: Bruce Arians or Pep Hamilton
The perenials push through the softened earth to grab their first few rays of sunlight, the winds hint that warmer weather is on the way, the foles take their first few steps (thanks to H.O.A.T. working hard in the offseason), and "Beamer Succession threads" shed their winter slumber to be born again anew. Must be springtime.
At this time, Shane Beamer doesn't have a strong enough resume to warrant consideration for a Power 5 head coach job. He may end up being a terrific head coach, but up-and-down success as a recruiter, and mixed results as a position coach, doesn't hold up to other terrific candidates across the country.
If Whit wants a defensive coach, then there's one answer: Bud Foster. Every other choice is wrong, and it would come across as a slap in the face to the Blacksburg icon.
However, my hunch is Whit wants an offensive-minded head coach. Given Tech's decade-plus of nearly unwatchable offenses, Whit can earn kudos by hiring a coach that can light up the scoreboard. The average fan prefers points to defense, and from an entertainment standpoint, that can lead to more butts in seats at Lane. Bud locked up as Tech's long term defensive coordinator is a great selling point on top of everything else Tech has to offer.
Bruce Arians is a pipe dream, and Pep Hamilton is a longshot. Much like with Tubberville at Auburn, and Buzz at Tech, Whit will find a proven college coach looking for greener grass.
As much as I love Bud, and I really really love Bud, I must agree with your point, Joe. Frank was a defense/special teams kinda guy, and sometimes it just felt like offense was an afterthought. I'd really love it if Whit could find a way to retain Bud and bring in a coach with a proven system on offense. He could just relax with Bud in charge of the D and concentrate on bringing the same level of expertise and passion for the O. This would make the Hokies scary good, I believe, but without Bud somewhere in the mix, any change would feel like half a loaf, at least for a while. By the same token, with Bud as head coach, a real hot shot offensive coordinator could effect the same elevation, especially if Bud could find the perfect "other side of the coin" to match his accomplishments.
As for long shots and pipe dreams, I would have put Buzz Williams in that category not long ago, so no telling what Whit can pull out of his hat. Right now, though, I'm all for Frank and his crew and hope this year restores the swagger...I'm tired of the limp we've been moving with the past three years.
I'm SO not the average fan.
I much prefer #blitzallnight, sacks and ball hawking DBU guys.
Tyrod, MV7, and David Wilson were nice, but my all time favorite Hokies are Brandon Flowers, Xavier Adibi, and Corey Moore.
My two cents - Coach Foster gets the job. You can argue whether or not he'll be successful all damnday, but the fact that he deserves the shot doesn't even warrant discussion.
It was a nice respectful article but really a year or two early. Beamer is the coach for at least two more years. Availability of all the people involved could change radically in that time period.
We've known the answer since 2000. It's Gary Darnell, Jim Weaver's man.
I have sources telling me that a genetically engineered creature is being created deep in the laboratories under Tech campus to take the place of legendary Frank Beamer upon retirement. Taken from hair follicles of Frank Beamer himself , a blood sample from Bud Foster, the core of an apple once ate by Tyrod, gum once chewed by Mike Vick, crumbs from a Hokie Club once ate by Sam Rogers, and such.
Soon...
Ok....i'll be the one.....Pep is the OC of the Colts...not the 9ers.....
I'm less interested in who will succeed Beamer and more interested in how Beamer will succeed