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Virginia Tech Fires Baseball Coach Pat Mason

By Justin Cates

Jun 28, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; General view of the game between the Arizona Wildcats and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in game two of the College World Series championship series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 28, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; General view of the game between the Arizona Wildcats and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in game two of the College World Series championship series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Virginia Tech has relieved baseball coach Pat Mason of his duties after four seasons. The announcement came Sunday, one day after Virginia Tech failed to qualify for the ACC baseball tournament for the third time under Mason.

“After careful consideration and an ongoing evaluation of the long-term direction of baseball at Virginia Tech, we have decided to make a change,” Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said in a statement.

“While I know Coach Mason is disappointed, he has handled this situation like the consummate professional that he is. We wish him the best.”

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The Hokies were 90-126-1 during Mason’s tenure as head coach including a 23-32 mark this season. Tech struggled in conference play posting a 37-82 mark over four seasons. This year was no different with a 9-21 ACC record that featured a 1-14 mark in conference road games.

“I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to coach at Virginia Tech,” Mason said. “I appreciate the efforts that our players, coaches and support staff made to represent Tech in a first-class manner. The support of my wife and family has meant the world to me. We have many fond memories of our time in Blacksburg and we wish the Hokies the very best going forward.”

The move isn’t very surprising considering the downward trend of the program recently. Pat Mason served on the previous staff led by Pete Hughes, who led Tech to two NCAA tournament appearances. Blacksburg even hosted a regional for the first time in school history before Hughes left for Oklahoma following the 2013 season.

The Hokies lost a ton of talent from those teams and faced an upward climb to rebuild in the brutal ACC. Mason wasn’t able to summit the peak, and the Hokie hurlers were a weak spot for the former pitching coach.

Tech posted a league-worst 5.82 team ERA this season and surrendered 84 home runs.

A new coach will be in the dugout when the Hokies will unveil a major overhaul of English Field at Union Park. The $20 million dollar project will be completed in 2018, in time for Virginia Tech’s 125th season of baseball.

Improved facilities will help Babcock in his search for a new coach. Tech’s AD also has a strong baseball background having played at James Madison. Brad Babcock, Whit’s father, coached for the Dukes for 19 seasons.

Whit also serves on the Division I baseball committee which selects teams for participation in the NCAA tournament.

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