Justin Fuente Replacing Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech
By Jason McIntyre
Justin Fuente, the Memphis coach who took the Tigers out of the gutter and to a 9-3 mark this year, will be the next coach at Virginia Tech, multiple outlets are reporting.
SI’s Pete Thamel had it first a few hours ago:
"Virginia Tech: This is the easiest job to figure out. All signs point to Memphis coach Justin Fuente accepting the position sometime in the next few days. At this point, it would be shocking if he doesn’t get it. Credit Tech AD Whit Babcock for targeting a coach who should be a great fit, as Fuente’s low-key and football-centric demeanor will be a good addition in Blacksburg."
What a tremendous hire by the Hokies. In fact, it might be the best hire in what figures to be a wild coaching carousel. Fuente inherited a doormat of a program and in year three they improved to 10-3 and finished the season ranked. They might finish with the same record this year.
Even better news for the Hokies – they return plenty of talent offensively, with eight starters back on offense, and seven on defense. The front seven on defense will absorb some losses, but the offense should more than make up for it.
Fuente may not be a national household name yet, but he’ll have a chance to do it next year with games against Tennessee and Notre Dame.