After 36 years, Billy Hite is officially retiring (not visiting, haha) from Virginia Tech. It's sad but words cannot explain how much he meant to Virginia Tech during his time here. I wish Billy nothing but the best, thank you for what you have done for Virginia Tech.
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That frees up some salary.
EDIT: Not an insult. Of course I'm thankful for all he's done. It's invaluable. I was only stating that this might open up a little more moola.
You finally got Billy Hite to visit after 36 years?
Wow did I ever miss that up, haha.
I was about to add... "And you're sad about that?!? I would be hyped if Billy Hite came to visit me after 36 years, although he would have had to guess at my mere existence four years before it happened."
Then I thought: Maybe he's talking about joining the BOV?
But then I concluded: Hmm...better make a snarky comment. Yes, that's the ticket.
You always take the Path of Snark.
Darn...I was hoping he would commit on his official visit...
Billy Hite was a key component of fashioning the Hokie football philosophy, even before Frank came into the picture. While some might ignore his contributions over the decades of service he provided, I just want to thank him for his leadership and development of so many memorable RB's during his time. Thank you, Billy! Enjoy your days ahead!
I've known Coach Hite since my sophomore year in high school when I met him at the VT camp - one of my favorite coaches on the staff. I'm sure he'll have a lot more time to get out on the golf course now.
Best of luck, Coach.
It's sad. He could have been a good TE after redshirting.
Thank you for all you did for the Hokies
Billy Hite's legacy will forever be cemented into Virginia Tech Football. Pound the Rock!
My favorite Billy Hite story:
In the early afternoon on Nov. 29, 2006, Warren Central High School football coach Steve Tutsie sat in a passenger seat and gave driving directions to Virginia Tech running backs coach Billy Hite. When the car arrived at a hospital, Hite wondered, "What's wrong?"
"Darren wants to be the one to tell you," Tutsie replied.
Hite was taken to the maternity ward and into a room filled with Evans's family and the family of his future wife. Aunts, uncles and cousins all surrounded Taneesha Evans, then Darren's girlfriend, as she prepared to give birth to James Evans.
"Here she is laying in the bed, in labor, and I'm having a home visit about Virginia Tech talking to both sides of the family," said Hite, shaking his head and laughing.
Evans, meantime, was just excited he could tell Hite about his situation face-to-face. Though he couldn't stop thinking about what his new son would look like, Hite's presence that day ultimately persuaded Evans to come to Virginia Tech.
BILLY AND DARREN
Hokiesports lists 6 individuals who have decided to retire.
Billy Hite, Jim Cavanauagh, Lester Karlin, Russ Whitenack (Monogram Club director), Al Brauns (softball assistant coach) and Clara Kinzie (housekeeper)
Which brings me to my next question.
What in the hell is the VT Monogram Club and what does it do?
I believe its former athletes... Russ is a really good guy. Remember him telling me back in the day, that Damien Russell could have been a all american sprinter if he put the time in. That was one fast dude.
Per the Hokiesports article:
Lester is a great guy. I wonder what impact, if any, his retirement will have on #ALLMAROONEVERYTHING ?
That decision is made above his pay grade.
They monogram shirts and stuff like that...
I have a personal favorite Billy Hite story:
I was the sports editor of the CT during the 1999 football season, and we were covering the WVU game. After Shayne hit his miraculous kick it was obviously a mob scene. I saw Hite walk up to Shayne, and this was what he said (I swear I'm not making this up):
"Shayne, if you don't go downtown, get drunk and get laid tonight, you just give me a call and I'll come over and fuck you myself!"
I up-voted Guitarman just because I couldn't up-vote MikeO twice.
Hite should be remembered in the same light as Foster. Guy was asked to support a run-first offense and he produced multiple stud RB's over his time. Besides managing play makers, he also produced solid, fundamental runners that understood how to block,how to take what's there, how to protect the ball (for the most part). Until recently, VT was getting a reputation of RB-U from the mid 90s onward. Thanks coach - enjoy retirement.
Good post. Like teaching Shaq how to shoot free throws, teaching some RBs how to not fumble isn't necessarily a weakness of the coach, but of the player. Billy Hite knew how to teach RB fundamentals, and the results are all over the Hokie record books.
Many greats to remember from just the mid 90's until his finish - TD Tommy, D Thomas, Ox, Parker, Stith, Suggs, KJ, Ore, Evan, RMFW, Wilson. Plus his ability to find a fire hydrant in war memorial and turn him into a starting caliber FB.
Turkey Leg for the TD Tommy, D Thomas, Ox, and Parker references.
And also for correctly remembering Ryan Williams middle initials.
I loved helping Coach Hite when I was an equipment manager. He always had me in stitches when we went to UNC. We would be out there during warm ups and he would go "Looks like they took my name down" referring to the ring of honor there which has LT, Julius Peppers, etc. in it.
I caught up with him at a game last year. It was great seeing him. I will miss Lester the most though. Best boss you could ever have.
Lester will still be around, just not as the director or whatever his title is. He is sticking around as a 1500 hr guy, at least that is his plan anyway. The guy just never quits working. Only reason he is even retiring, is the hours are getting a little ridiculous for him. There is nothing like being in the equipment room when Lester starts getting a roll with his jokes on the players.
Billy has the all-time best winning percentage as a D1 head coach. Truly the GOAT.
GOAT: Greatest of All Time OR
Thanks, Billy for your many long years of hard work,dedication,service & loyalty to Virginia Tech . You will definitely be missed!
Earlier this morning, Mike London congratulated Coach Hite on formerly retiring from Virginia Tech. What a class act.
Formerly*
Just edited it. Damn it, I misspelled a misspelling.
Ok now I get it. Cause I was legitimately confused for ten minutes. I read it before the edit and when HokieFish had only posted *formerly. This confused me greatly because I thought it was formally. I then spent ten minutes researching if my English is even worse than I previously thought. I think I understand the joke now. Or English still eludes me.
It's been a few days and I came to check out the new comments, but I forgot I already upvoted this...I was so about to do it again.
Thanks Coach, enjoy retirement!
One of the best coaches on staff! Mr. Hite, you surely will be missed.