Virginia Tech football: Worst head coach hires in program history

Oct 16, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Justin Fuente waits in the tunnel to take his team onto the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Justin Fuente waits in the tunnel to take his team onto the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 19: Mascot of the Virginia Tech Hokies, HokieBird, crowd surfs with the Corps of Cadets during the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Lane Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 19: Mascot of the Virginia Tech Hokies, HokieBird, crowd surfs with the Corps of Cadets during the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Lane Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /

Prior to Frank Beamer’s tenure in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech never experienced any real success on the football field. Their first win in a bowl game came in 1986 under Bill Dooley, so there isn’t a storied history of success.

Still, amongst the years of mediocrity, McNeish’s tenure stands out. Virginia Tech would have loved a mediocre season with McNeish as its head coach, but what he gave them was a complete disaster.

He coached from 1948-50 and in those three seasons, managed just one win, beating Richmond in 1949. He finished his career with a record of 1-25-3.

McNeish was awful while he was in Blacksburg, but the only silver lining is that he didn’t set the program back long-term. A few seasons later in 1954, Frank Moseley led Virginia Tech to an undefeated season, 8-0-1.