When Virginia Tech decided to fire head football coach Brent Pry back in September, it didn't catch many people off guard. However, what opened some eyes in the days and weeks that followed was that the athletic director, Whit Babcock, was not going to be part of the next search for his replacement.
Instead, Virginia Tech formed a search committee to start the process of hiring the next head coach. Babcock was 0-for-2 in the last two hirings following the retirement of Frank Beamer, striking out with Justin Fuente and Pry. There was no way that an AD could get to do a third search for a football coach in this day and age of college sports.
When the dust settled on the next hiring, the school named James Franklin as Pry's replacement. One Thursday, it was announced that Babcock is retiring on June 30, just a couple of weeks after Virginia Tech President Tim Sands announced his retirement.
For 12 years, Whit Babcock led Virginia Tech Athletics with purpose, pride and a deep care for the people who make this place special.
— HokieSports (@hokiesports) April 23, 2026
Today, he announced his retirement as Director of Athletics, effective June 30, 2026.
➡️ https://t.co/8CbyceDF5l pic.twitter.com/naLsrKCh03
Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock announces retirement
Babock stepping down isn't going to upset many Virginia Tech fans, given the way the athletics have fallen behind the times of NIL. However, to his credit, he has been a driving force in getting that notion turned around and slowly getting the Hokies on an upward trajectory to fixing that.
“Serving as Virginia Tech’s Director of Athletics has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Babcock said in a school-issued statement. “For me and my family, this wasn’t just a career stop, it was my dream job and a homecoming of sorts. To return to Virginia, to serve this university, and to be part of a community that lives and breathes Hokie sports, has meant more than words can express.
“This place has given my family and me memories we’ll cherish forever. The opportunity to raise our three sons in Blacksburg, the friendships, the fans, the community, Virginia Tech is unlike anywhere else. I love it. This is Home.”
Babcock arrived in Blacksburg from Cincinnati in 2014 and served the school for 12 years. He will still be around as he will be moving into an advisory role to the university president and the new athletics director. This is certainly a huge move in terms of some massive changes happening in leadership at Virginia Tech.
Add us as a preferred source on Google