When Virginia Tech fired football coach Brent Pry last Sunday, it was seen as just the first a several moves that need to be made to get the football program heading in the right direction.
In order to do that, there needs to be somewhat of an overhaul in the athletic department, and it wouldn't be surprising to see it happen sooner rather than later. There is also the Board of Visitors, which is in play as well in terms of getting more money into the athletic department to help programs compete with the rest of the ACC. On College GameDay, ESPN insider Pete Thamel hinted that money is coming.
Pete Thamel of ESPN hints at Virginia Tech making a financial commitment to programs
During a segment on College GameDay in Miami for tonight's Florida/Miami in-state battle, Thamel said that Virginia Tech wants to target their next head coach as someone who has experience, while adding $50 million to the athletic budget to compete with the highest levels in the ACC.
Easier said than done right now, but there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. The next coach won't he officially hired for a while as a committee goes through the process, but the Board of Visitors is meeting on Sept. 30, and if they are adding money, then the hire needs to be the right one and one that is correct. This is the biggest hire for the future of the program that has happened in a long, long time in Blacksburg.
It's no secret that Virginia Tech is currently way behind the times in terms of NIL, and athletic director Whit Babcock, who is on the hot seat as well, made a presentation to the BOV last month and asked for upwards of $52 million in funds to support the program to make it competitive again. Thamel sure sounded like someone who knows that changes are on the way that include much-needed money in Blacksburg.