Over the last couple of seasons, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen has come under fire from Virginia Tech football fans. Hired three years ago by head coach Brent Pry to run the offense, there have been times when he hit it big, and then there were times when it looked like he had no clue what he was doing.
Virginia Tech fans have been waiting and waiting for the program to get back to what it once was, but one thing that feels like has been holding it back is the coaching. I know I'm not breaking any news here, but it is what it is.
Bowen had a ton of offensive talent last season, but there were games where his team struggled to put points up on the board. Hokies' fan's frustration was right from the beginning and with the news that he's leaving Blacksburg for Ohio State to become the new defensive coordinator, the news was met with some raised eyebrows.
Tyler Bowen leaves Virginia Tech as OC to become an OL coach is certainly a move
Say what you will about Bowen, but leaving an offensive coordinator position to become a position coach at another school is certainly eye-popping and a move, to say the least. In the bigger picture, it's a bad look for the Virginia Tech program, even if Bowen is moving to the defending National champs at Ohio State.
Think about this, Bowen is giving scheming offenses and calling plays to take a position coaching job, albeit at Ohio State, in a lesser capacity. Now, could this be a short-term move there is something bigger planned down the line? Yes, of course. Could this be a bad sign for Pry, Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock, and the school in terms of resources and the ability to compete with the bigger schools? Yes.
Look, if Bowen was making a lateral move to Ohio State as the OC, then it's a no-brainer, however, to move for a position coaching spot could be very telling. What's it telling us? Well, things may be as bad in Blacksburg around the program than we originally thought.
Now that Bowen is gone, this makes the next OC hire at Virginia Tech a pivotal one. Pry has to hit a home run with the next hire because if not, he could be looking for a job at this time next year.