When Virginia Tech hired James Franklin as their next football coach, the wheels were already in motion for the school to invest in athletics. You can tell me that behind closed doors, it was a topic as Franklin was going through the interview process. Clearly, it was a huge reason for Franklin taking the position.
Earlier this year, it was announced that changes were coming in leadership at Virginia Tech. It was announced that President Tim Sands was going to be retiring, then shortly after that, it was announced that athletic director Whit Babcock was also retiring. Months after Franklin was hired in Blacksburg, a lot of change is happening in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech has been on the search for Babcock's replacement, and you know that Franklin is having a say in who gets hired. There was some thought that Coastal Carolina athletic director Chance Miller was a target for Virginia Tech. He very well could have been, but it appears that the school is going in a different direction.
Virginia Tech reportedly hiring Florida Atlantic AD Brian White as school's next athletic director
According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, Virginia Tech is targeting Brian White from Florida Atlantic as its next athletic director. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported that a deal is expected for White to land in Blacksburg.
This is a noticeable hire as White has had success during his time at FAU. He hired former men's basketball coach Dusty May, who would end up leaving for Michigan after leading the Owls to the Final Four in 2023. May just bolted Michigan to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.
White is an interesting hire, as when Franklin was hired at Virginia Tech, he made it known that the new AD needed to be committed to football. You have to think that Franklin is on board with this hire, as White's track record of FAU athletics under him and the ability to build programs at a small school speak for themselves.
Given all the reporting, this feels like the direction Virginia Tech is going to go to replace Babcock.
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