Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock is on the hunt for his next head coach. Following a 0-3 start, the program fired Brent Pry. Philip Montgomery is stepping up as the interim head coach. The Hokies have improved to 2-5 (if we can call it an improvement) since then, but more than their on-field performance, the coaching carousel has dominated the discourse. The program has been tight-lipped about the developments, but we have some information about the process.

Over the weeks, multiple names and faces have appeared in the headlines as potential replacements for Brent Pry. The list includes James Franklin, Alex Golesh, Bob Chesney, Billy Napier, Manny Diaz, Dan Mullen, and others. The AD had swiftly set up an eight-person committee to begin the search.

As per the latest intel by 247 Sports’ Colby Crawford, Dan Mullen, Manny Diaz, and Bob Chesney might be lined up for interviews at VT shortly. “I think you might start to see some interviews start to burn it up this week,” he wrote on X. Crawford is connecting some dots as UNLV Rebels, Duke, and James Madison do not have a game scheduled this weekend, and the Hokies, who are coming off their bye week, might be interviewing these potential candidates.

“As you know, it’s starting to devolve in the process a little bit. You’re here on October 22, coming off a bye week. I know you posted the know-how about just being cognizant of what other coaches might be on a buy,” Crawford added. “Obviously, there’s been a lot of smoke around Dan Mullen… UNLV is on a bye.”

The former Gators’ head coach, who took Florida to the SEC Championship game in 2020, is 6-1 with UNLV so far. When he was doing broadcasting gigs last year, it was assumed that Mullen would leave for a coaching position. The Rebels called, and he answered. Can the same happen for the Hokies? Then there’s Manny Diaz.

“There’s been some noise about Manny Diaz; Duke’s on a bye,” Crawford said. Diaz holds an overall coaching record of 34-21. Before Duke, he was Penn State’s defensive coordinator and produced NFL talent at the program. Presently, the Blue Devils are 4-3 into the season. So, can Diaz switch his coaching gig? ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Max Olsen, and Eli Lederman think it might be possible. “Could it end up being Florida State, his alma mater, or another program in the ACC and Southeast, where he has primarily lived and coached? It’s quite possible.”

Next is James Madison’s Bob Chesney. “You don’t have to look too far at JMU; Bob Chesney is on bye,” Crawford said. With over 16 years of experience in collegiate coaching, Chesney is another name to look out for. He holds an overall record of 120-50, with seven conference championships. Presently, he has a 6-1 record this season.

Colby Crawford is fixated on VT’s HC search with a hawk’s eye, but AD Whit Babcock and other officials have not dropped any hint as of now.

Whit Babcock signed an NDA

College football has fired 11 head coaches so far. And all these 11 programs are on the lookout for their next leader. It has gotten a bit competitive for the athletic directors to fill the position swiftly. In mid-October, reports surfaced that Babcock and the committee members had signed an NDA, refusing any hints at any development regarding the candidates and interviews.

Insider Andy Bitter reported, “We’re told Babcock and the search committee members have signed NDAs and will no longer comment on the process. #Hokies,” he wrote on X. It is clear that Babcock is keeping his cards close to his chest, as the HC developments remain under wraps. VT is cautious about potential leaks or rumors that might affect their chances of landing a favorable candidate.

Moreover, the program has rolled out $299 million for the athletic budget to help them revamp their programs and aid in finding a suitable HC. “That investment represents a bold commitment to ensuring Virginia Tech’s student-athletes and coaches have the resources necessary to compete with the top programs in the ACC and beyond,” VT wrote on its website.