Justin Fuente introduced as Virginia Tech’s next head coach

Blacksburg, Va. – Virginia Tech has officially named Justin Fuente as the new head football coach for the Hokies. “You hope to build on what he’s done”, Fuente said in a room packed with administrators, boosters, football players and Beamer and Beamer’s wife, Cheryl.

This move was hardly a surprise, but following the team’s 23-20 loss to in-state rival Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon, news broke that London was likely out in Charlottesville.

Fuente is known as an offensive coach and has the Tigers at No. 12 at the FBS level in total offense, with 5,642 yards this season. In his six seasons as head coach, London only posted on winning record and one bowl game appearance, that coming in 2011.

Prior to his stint with the Tigers, Fuente was the co-offensive coordinator at TCU from 2009-11 and the running backs coach from 2007-08.

The 39-year-old Fuente, was joined by his wife and three daughters at his introductory press conference, which took place less than a day after Tech announced the hiring.

The school confirmed that defensive coordinator Bud Foster will stay on in that same role on Fuente’s staff.

Bowen also said he had “tremendous gratitude” for the job Fuente had done at Memphis.

Through the Hokies’ bowl game, the program will essentially operate with two coaching staffs. Virginia Tech has asked for dispensation from an NCAA rule permitting football teams only one head coach and nine assistant coaches.

They are 9-3 this season, including a 63-0 victory against SMU on Saturday in Fuente’s final game. Memphis has average 42 points a game the last two seasons.

Right now, Fuente’s biggest drawback is his lack of regional recruiting ties – an area in which Beamer and his staff excelled.

RUTGERS: Rutgers fired football coach Kyle Flood and athletic director Julie Hermann on Sunday, stripping the athletic department of its most prominent employees after a season that was a failure on and off the field.

“There are many, many candidates interested in this job”.

“They’ll bring somebody in that’s going to be a really good football coach and they’re going to get it done”, Fuente said.