https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/14...5895355394

VT looks set to announce Penn State defensive coordinator, Brent Pry, as the next head coach for the Hokies. Interesting hire - some bullet points:

• From Lexington, VA
• Worked at VT as a GA from 95-97 under Bud Foster
• Has held assistant HC role (in addition to DC) since 2011 under James Franklin
• Good recruiter with ties to Mid-Atlantic (has recruited a number of high profile VA guys to PSU in recent years)
  

Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

It's a completely out of left field pick. NO ONE, predicted Brent Pry as the new HC.

We went from being turned down by Campbell for 6 mil a year when he wanted 8 mil to getting an inexperienced coordinator for $4.5 mil a year.

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

Not sure if it was a good move. I would stay with an interim coach and wait until the carousel slows down.

(11-30-2021 12:18 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

It's a completely out of left field pick. NO ONE, predicted Brent Pry as the new HC.

We went from being turned down by Campbell for 6 mil a year when he wanted 8 mil to getting an inexperienced coordinator for $4.5 mil a year.

Haven't seen terms anywhere, so I'm not sure if that 4.5M figure is accurate.

From what I'm hearing, he'll be making less than Fuente, and the pool for assistants will supposedly put us second in line for the conference behind Clemson. I'll believe it when I see it.

I think Pry is a great culture fit, but the offensive staff hires are going to be super important. We'll see how things shake out.

If it gets Penn State out of Virginia, that's a good thing.

Plus, everything the other Hokies posted.

Nothing is going to get Penn State out of Virginia.

Glad he's retaining Price.

I stand by what I said when this began: Not sure Whit Babcock is the guy you want making this decision. So far he's been the biggest loser not named Fuente in the change.

(11-30-2021 03:17 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  I stand by what I said when this began: Not sure Whit Babcock is the guy you want making this decision. So far he's been the biggest loser not named Fuente in the change.

Says the guy who has an AD that still employs Geoff Collins and Josh Pastner...

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

I am not sure where you are getting this. Whit is extremely well respected among those working in the industry. Many people think very highly of him.

(11-30-2021 04:34 PM)H.U.S.T.L.E. Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 03:17 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  I stand by what I said when this began: Not sure Whit Babcock is the guy you want making this decision. So far he's been the biggest loser not named Fuente in the change.

Says the guy who has an AD that still employs Geoff Collins and Josh Pastner...

Pastner came from Mike Bobinski. He was extended after winning the ACC.

Geoff was actually a good hire for the primary concern with moving on from the option: recruiting. Even as a 3-win dumpster fire these are among the best recruiting classes GT has had in 20 years.

(11-30-2021 04:56 PM)CardFANATIC Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

I am not sure where you are getting this. Whit is extremely well respected among those working in the industry. Many people think very highly of him.

I disagree.

2003-2007 West Virginia (Assistant AD)
2007-2011 Missouri (Associate AD)
2011–2014 Cincinnati
2014–present Virginia Tech

Who was Whit's only major football hire? Why, Senator Tommy Tubberville ... the last Cincinnati head coach who couldn't turn out a winning program at one of the best G5s in the country. Whit used Cincinnati as a stepping stone.

Who has he hired in Blacksburg? Buzz Williams was all things considered above average, but not a good look getting stiff armed for TAMU in basketball. He left the place better than he found it, but he also cared not to stay in Blacksburg. Mike Young ... because when I think somewhere to go hunting for a hoops coach ... I think Wofford. I don't think Mike Young will work on the ACC, and I say that having watched Bobby "AARP" Cremins coach circles around him every time CofC played Wofford.

I'm a Whit Babcock skeptic. I've learned the hard way through watching GT through the decades that if you're going to have success you must first have the right AD and President in that order. I think AD is where most of the ACC is doing a terrible job right now. Including VT. You would have thought Whit would have learned a thing or two from hiring Tubberville. But this football hire looks just as poorly managed, thought out, and executed as his last.

(11-30-2021 05:17 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 04:56 PM)CardFANATIC Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

I am not sure where you are getting this. Whit is extremely well respected among those working in the industry. Many people think very highly of him.

I disagree.

2003-2007 West Virginia (Assistant AD)
2007-2011 Missouri (Associate AD)
2011–2014 Cincinnati
2014–present Virginia Tech

Who was Whit's only major football hire? Why, Senator Tommy Tubberville ... the last Cincinnati head coach who couldn't turn out a winning program at one of the best G5s in the country. Whit used Cincinnati as a stepping stone.

Who has he hired in Blacksburg? Buzz Williams was all things considered above average, but not a good look getting stiff armed for TAMU in basketball. He left the place better than he found it, but he also cared not to stay in Blacksburg. Mike Young ... because when I think somewhere to go hunting for a hoops coach ... I think Wofford. I don't think Mike Young will work on the ACC, and I say that having watched Bobby "AARP" Cremins coach circles around him every time CofC played Wofford.

I'm a Whit Babcock skeptic. I've learned the hard way through watching GT through the decades that if you're going to have success you must first have the right AD and President in that order. I think AD is where most of the ACC is doing a terrible job right now. Including VT. You would have thought Whit would have learned a thing or two from hiring Tubberville. But this football hire looks just as poorly managed, thought out, and executed as his last.

You're not going to get far criticizing Whit's basketball hires.

Even Fuente was believed to be a good hire at the time. If you want to say VT couldn't compete with Florida, LSU, USC, Notre Dame, and OU for coaches, fine... water IS wet.

As for Coach Pry, I'd say the jury has yet to even convene, much less reach a verdict.

(11-30-2021 05:30 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  You're not going to get far criticizing Whit's basketball hires.

Give it a few more years for Mike Young.

(11-30-2021 05:30 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Even Fuente was believed to be a good hire at the time. If you want to say VT couldn't compete with Florida, LSU, USC, Notre Dame, and OU for coaches, fine... water IS wet.

As for Coach Pry, I'd say the jury has yet to even convene, much less reach a verdict.

Everybody thinks they have a good hire at first. Don't focus on Coach Pry as much as the process that played out. If you're going to axe the existing coach, you'd better already have a short list of in the bag candidates. It seems pretty clear they wanted Campbell but didn't bother to have him in the bag before firing Fuente. Then as things went thermonuclear on the coaching carousel with USC, LSU, OU, UF, etc it quickly became "get a lesser name, save some money, try to overcompensate with assistant hires."

And we should all be worried by the Disney fueled spending abilities of the SEC. LSU summarized: Hey Brian Kelly, I see you are about to play for a National Championship over there at hallowed Notre Dame. How much do those "golden" types pay you up there? That's cute. Here's double. The SEC is going to consume and destroy plenty of coaching careers. But it'll also make dozens of new multi-millionaires in the process. And poach any coaching staff from any other team in any other conference that can be bought and finds academic limitations ...... limiting.

The price for "established" coaches has skyrocketed.

I'm glad we didn't entertain 8mil for Campbell.

The history of "splashy" coaching hires says it rarely works out.

There are as many examples of good coordinators having success at their first gig as established coaches succeeding after trying to climb the ladder.

If we don't have the money then we need to get back to what worked for us....keeping VA talent in state. This hire goes directly toward addressing that.

I'm willing to take the gamble at this price.

(11-30-2021 05:17 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 04:56 PM)CardFANATIC Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

I am not sure where you are getting this. Whit is extremely well respected among those working in the industry. Many people think very highly of him.

I disagree.

2003-2007 West Virginia (Assistant AD)
2007-2011 Missouri (Associate AD)
2011–2014 Cincinnati
2014–present Virginia Tech

Who was Whit's only major football hire? Why, Senator Tommy Tubberville ... the last Cincinnati head coach who couldn't turn out a winning program at one of the best G5s in the country. Whit used Cincinnati as a stepping stone.

Who has he hired in Blacksburg? Buzz Williams was all things considered above average, but not a good look getting stiff armed for TAMU in basketball. He left the place better than he found it, but he also cared not to stay in Blacksburg. Mike Young ... because when I think somewhere to go hunting for a hoops coach ... I think Wofford. I don't think Mike Young will work on the ACC, and I say that having watched Bobby "AARP" Cremins coach circles around him every time CofC played Wofford.

I'm a Whit Babcock skeptic. I've learned the hard way through watching GT through the decades that if you're going to have success you must first have the right AD and President in that order. I think AD is where most of the ACC is doing a terrible job right now. Including VT. You would have thought Whit would have learned a thing or two from hiring Tubberville. But this football hire looks just as poorly managed, thought out, and executed as his last.

I don’t have a problem with Whit’s basketball and Olympic sports hires. In fact, VT is not a one trick pony any more. Our basketball and soccer programs are much better now than before.

I am somewhat agreeing with you on the football hires, though. I think he should have fired Fuente last year and brought Shane Beamer home. He could have done it for less than $3M. Shane Beamer might share nothing common with Frank Beamer other than the last name but that last name sure can help recruiting in Virginia. The current interim coach, a hokie alum, can also receuit in Virignia. Why rush when the carousel spins at a full speed?

(11-30-2021 05:17 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 04:56 PM)CardFANATIC Wrote:  

(11-30-2021 11:13 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  Sounds like they moved on what they could since the carousel was spinning into hyperdrive.

I am not sure where you are getting this. Whit is extremely well respected among those working in the industry. Many people think very highly of him.

I disagree.

2003-2007 West Virginia (Assistant AD)
2007-2011 Missouri (Associate AD)
2011–2014 Cincinnati
2014–present Virginia Tech

Who was Whit's only major football hire? Why, Senator Tommy Tubberville ... the last Cincinnati head coach who couldn't turn out a winning program at one of the best G5s in the country. Whit used Cincinnati as a stepping stone.

Who has he hired in Blacksburg? Buzz Williams was all things considered above average, but not a good look getting stiff armed for TAMU in basketball. He left the place better than he found it, but he also cared not to stay in Blacksburg. Mike Young ... because when I think somewhere to go hunting for a hoops coach ... I think Wofford. I don't think Mike Young will work on the ACC, and I say that having watched Bobby "AARP" Cremins coach circles around him every time CofC played Wofford.

I'm a Whit Babcock skeptic. I've learned the hard way through watching GT through the decades that if you're going to have success you must first have the right AD and President in that order. I think AD is where most of the ACC is doing a terrible job right now. Including VT. You would have thought Whit would have learned a thing or two from hiring Tubberville. But this football hire looks just as poorly managed, thought out, and executed as his last.

That is an extremely small sample size. Like I said, people that actually work in the business think very highly of Whit. He did a lot of good things at UC while there despite your criticism. He was able to keep Mick Cronin despite some other schools inquiring and he got the renovation of Nippert started.