Late on Monday afternoon, it was announced that James Franklin was officially hired as the next football coach at Virginia Tech. After weeks of rumors and waiting, it was finally announced that the search committee landed the biggest name available in the college football coaching search.
Franklin will be introduced on Wednesday morning at Cassell Coliseum in a press conference. As time goes on, it'll be interesting to see who he retains on the current coaching staff and who he brings with him from the outside. The same goes for recruits and players in the Transfer Portal.
There are some coaches that a lot of people like to see retained, but it would not upset many people if Franklin brought back one coach to Blacksburg.
James Franklin should consider brining Brent Pry back as defensive coordinator
When Virginia Tech hired Brent Pry in 2021 to replace Justin Fuente, he was Franklin's defensive coordinator at Penn State. Pry was fired in September as head coach of the Hokies, but let's make one thing clear: Brent Pry was not hated by the fanbase like other coaches tend to be when they're fired.
Virginia Tech fans are smart and knowledgeable, and they understand that Pry was a good guy and likable, but he just wasn't head-coaching material. He tried and poured his heart and time into the position.
However, as a defensive coordinator, that's where he made a name for himself. Franklin bringing him back would seem awkward to most, but it really wouldn't be. If that was the best move to excel the turnaround in Blacksburg, then most Hokies' fans would be on board with it.
Again, Franklin will likely bring in his staff to Virginia Tech, and that's understandable. There could be some holdovers, and nearly everyone would like to see Fontel Mines retained. Time will tell who stays and who comes in, but expect things to happen as soon as possible.