Memphis coach Justin Fuente hired as new Virginia Tech head coach

With Beamer set to retire, there have been reports that Memphis coach Justin Fuente will replace him.

The 39-year old Fuente has a career coaching record of 26-23 since taking over the Memphis Head Coach position in 2012. By his third season, he had gotten the Tigers to 10-3 and a share of the American Athletic Conference championship. “How we responded in the second half to beat a team in that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago means a lot”, Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said.

“I appreciate the opportunity to have been the head football coach at the University of Virginia and for the relationships that have been formed during my time in Charlottesville that will last for years to come”, London said in the release.

Littlepage met with London Sunday morning to discuss the future of the football program and he says they decided a change in leadership was in the best interests of the program. The Cavaliers finished the season at 4-8 after a loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday 23-20. It left London with a 27-46 record at the school. The results were 21-2 in favor of London resigning. Streaking the Lawn has more on the Cavaliers.

Virginia Tech is hoping that Frank Beamer’s legacy will continue to shine for their football program and that the hiring of a young coach such as Fuente can help turn the program back into a national powerhouse.

The Daily Progress listed Mack Brown (former Texas coach), Pep Hamilton (former Stanford offensive coordinator), Dan Mullen (Mississippi State), Dino Babers (Bowling Green), P.J. Fleck (Western Michigan), Calhoun, Brohm, Golden, Niumatalolo, Schiano, and Richt. The athletics department does not receive state funding.

University president Robert Barchi announced that Patrick Hobbs, Dean Emeritus of the Seton Hall University School of Law, will take over for Hermann.

“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.

Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4) needed the victory to qualify for its 23rd consecutive season-ending bowl game.

Flood was suspended for three games for making inappropriate contact with a professor regarding a player’s academics. The school offered him a contract worth around $3 million annually, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper.