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Report: Fuente’s New Contract Benefits Assistant Coaches

By Mike McDaniel

Oct 15, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Justin Fuente watches the play on the field during the fourth quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Justin Fuente watches the play on the field during the fourth quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Virginia Tech head football coach Justin Fuente was awarded with a two-year contract extension this past week, which barring a jump to another institution, will keep him in Blacksburg through the 2023 season.

As I wrote earlier in the week, the details of the contract released by the school include an escalating salary for Fuente in each season leading up to 2023, which includes an opportunity for Fuente to earn up to $4 million in his final season of the updated contract.

At his weekly press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Fuente praised his boss, Whit Babcock, and the rest of the athletic department for their support. In addition, he spoke of other “gains” from the new extension that would help the football program continue to progress.

And now it appears that we have some clarity on what those gains entail. According to a report from Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times, Fuente’s new agreement includes more money for his assistant coaches, as well as the development of a new full-time position on the staff.

Specifically, Bitter reports that assistant coaches on Fuente’s staff will receive $5,000 bonuses if the Hokies make the ACC Championship game, and $10,000 if they win the conference championship game.

Additionally, $167,500 was added to the salary pool for the football staff, which can be disseminated by Fuente at his discretion. the $167,500 is added to the original $3.4 million that was allotted in his original contract for his assistants.

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Finally, and perhaps most importantly for the short-term goals of the program, Fuente is at liberty to add a full-time recruiting position on his football staff with a starting salary of $32,500, according to Bitter.

Short of the pay raises for his assistants, the recruiting position seems to be one of the most important aspects of the new contract for Justin Fuente, as he will look to add a resource to his coaching staff that will assist on the recruiting trail.

The Hokies enjoyed one of their most successful recruiting cycles in years this past February, capturing a consensus top 25 class, and one of the top groups in the ACC for 2017’s National Signing Day.

With continued strong play on the field, the momentum on the recruiting trail should move full steam ahead for the 2018 class, and every individual on staff who can help pull in the top players in the state of Virginia and beyond will help.

It was no secret that Coach Fuente was thrilled with the new contract and now we know why. Let’s see how he will reap the benefits moving forward to continue to lead the football program in the right direction.

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