Brent Pry is history at Virginia Tech, and the Hokies are launching a nationwide search for his replacement. Not much was known about the direction the program was taking when it came to the search, but now things are becoming clear. We now have insight into the criteria for selecting the Hokies’ next head coach, which opens the door to an intriguing list of candidates.

Sources told On3 that the priority requirement for the job is head coaching experience. A current HC having a good experience with NIL and the transfer portal will be a more attractive option. That narrows the list down to some names, and we’ve got wind of a few being talked about. USF’s Alex Golesh could be a candidate, given how he’s turned things around for the program. Other choices can be Pat Fitzgerald, Dave Clawson, Shane Beamer, and even Jeff Monken.

“It’s great having the flashy coordinator. It’s like having the top chef in a restaurant. But you know who runs the restaurant? The general manager. That’s what a program like this needs,” a source told On3. Brent Pry’s 16-24 record became intolerable for the Hokies’ top brass. And after Old Dominion pummeled Virginia Tech 30-10 last weekend, it was the end for him at Blacksburg. The choices in the mix at the moment have all been successful in giving new life to their respective programs.

Monken has an 83-58 record with Army, at the moment, having been at the helm since 2014. 2024 was a great year for the Black Knights, and he could have success at Virginia Tech. Navy’s Brian Newberry can also be an option, considering his 18-10 record and a brilliant 2024 as well. Golesh, after the massive upset over Florida, has become a star in the FBS. He’s changed things at USF in the span of just 3 years, which is what makes him a great option.

Shane Beamer is a strong possibility. It will be tough for him to leave an SEC program to come join a struggling program like VT. But he knows this program from the inside out, thanks to the way his father shaped it in its heyday. AD Whit Babcock sure will be hoping for the legendary coach’s son to make a comeback. Because the management is focusing on experience, the Hokies will consider coaches who are currently not with any program. That’s how Fitzgerald becomes part of the conversation, given the fact that he’s brought 110 wins to Northwestern.

Head coaching duties are currently being overseen by interim HC Phillip Montgomery, but a search committee is being put together for Brent Pry’s successor. It’s going to be a wild ride for the group to land their new HC by next year, because they haven’t seen success with their last two hires. But given the dire state of Virginia Tech, this hunt is going to be a painstaking one. They’re going to be leaning strongly towards anyone and everyone who fits the job. That includes Michael Vick, who has just begun his foray into college football head coaching.

Michael Vick is a risky but valuable bet for Virginia Tech’s future

Babcock himself is feeling some heat because of the failures of both his hires. There seems to be an air of desperation at Virginia Tech, which could force the committee to even look at Michael Vick. He doesn’t quite fit the bill yet, because he’s still in his first year as HC at Norfolk State. But On3 reports that VT boosters are “pushing him” to get the due experience, so that in the near future, he becomes the best possible candidate. We’ll have to see how he fares this season to be able to be deemed a consideration for the job.

Vick can turn out to be a dark horse choice on the list. He won the 1999 national championship and has an impressive record in college football and the NFL as a quarterback. He can help bring NFL exposure to Virginia Tech, which is already happening at Norfolk State. We already know that the program is struggling in terms of money, as Babcock has admitted that the budget needs to be in the ballpark of 200 million. If Vick is successful as the HC of the Spartans and is offered the job at VT, he could be a source of assurance.

The Hokies are going to take this search seriously because their next hire cannot be a repeat of the last two. The new head coach of Virginia Tech has to deliver. Right now, there’s a whole range of candidates the program is looking at. But the sure thing as of now is that Virginia Tech is looking for someone with a proven track record.