When former Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen bolted last February for Ohio State to become the offensive line coach under Ryan Day. That left former Hokies coach Brent Pry to scramble to find a new OC before spring practices started.
After the search settled, Pry hired former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery to replace Bowen. An experienced play-caller who worked with some of the top quarterbacks in college football at various stops, he also had head coaching experience. That proved to be beneficial.
After Virginia Tech started 0-3 and suffered a blowout loss to Old Dominion at home in Week 3, Virginia Tech fired Pry and named Montgomery the interim coach. Montgomery deserved a lot of credit for keeping the team together nd allowed them to finish the season at 3-9, which included a surprising road win at North Carolina State to open ACC play, as well as an overtime win over California at home in October.
When Virginia Tech's search committee hired James Franklin in November, that all but signaled the end of Montgomery's time in Blacksburg. Since the Hokies' season-ending loss at Virginia on Thanksgiving Weekend, there has been no news of Montgomery's next move, until now.
Mississippi State reporedtly hiring Philip Montgomery as wide receiver coach
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Mississippi State is finalizing a deal to hire Montgomery as the Bulldogs' wide receivers coach and associate head coach for offense. He spent the 2023 season in the SEC at Auburn as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Montgomery worked with Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby at Baylor. After Montgomery left Virginia Tech, you knew it would only be a matter of time before he found another job. He has extensive playing calling history at all of his stops and should fit in fine with the Bulldogs in the SEC.