Pete Thamel: Virginia Tech planning major budget boost ahead of coaching search, targeting experienced head coach

Virginia Tech is in dire straits at the moment. The Hokies fired their football head coach in Brent Pry last weekend following an 0-3 start.

As they look to move into a more positive future, ESPN’s Pete Thamel is expecting some changes. He provided the latest on what Virginia Tech is thinking at the moment, believing the Hokies are ready to make a huge financial commitment to their football program.

“As for the jobs at UCLA and Virginia Tech, I’ve been told they’re going to target experienced head coaches,” Thamel reported on College GameDay. “Both schools need to market themselves as better jobs and show real financial commitment.

“At Virginia Tech, a source told me that by the end of the month they’re expected to add nearly $50 million to the athletic department budget to show they can compete at the highest levels of the ACC.”

Alas, Thamel’s report comes after Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock hinted at a new structure for the football program following Pry’s firing. Tech Sideline’s Andy Bitter reported Babcock said there is a plan to have a new structure in the entire athletic department moving forward.

He alluded to an NFL setup. That could very well mean a football GM is coming in for the new era of the Hokies as they look for sustained success.

On3’s Chris Low first reported the move to fire Pry following Virginia Tech’s 45-26 loss to Old Dominion last Saturday. Pry finished his time with the program 16-24 in three-plus seasons. 

Prior to the game, Pry told the media that he was trying to block out the growing negativity around the program. Safe to say, that didn’t quite get across: “I think you guys know I’m always going to find the positives,” he said.

“I think the guys need to, you know, the external noise is always, if you lose, it’s negative. We don’t want them listening to that. Listen to what’s fair, where the expectations weren’t met, where we have to be better, you see it, we see it, as coaches and players. But let’s not lose sight of the team that we’ve been at times, also that’s a pretty good football team.”

Following that loss, however, it was evident that the marriage could not go on for much longer. The former Penn State defensive coordinator was originally hired in November 2021 as Virginia Tech’s next head coach, replacing Justin Fuente. Fuente experienced much more success than Pry during his stint in Blacksburg (2016-21), as he went 43–31 overall and 28-20 in the ACC across six seasons.

Moving forward, the Hokies owe their former head coach $6 million. Virginia Tech will pay Pry in equal quarterly installments over the remainder of his contract, which expires Dec. 31, 2027. He will receive $750,000 per quarter until the end of 2027, when his six-year agreement expires. Pry was making $4.75 million this season.

As for where they go from here, On3’s Pete Nakos recently released his Virginia Tech hot board of coaching candidates. You can read that HERE, as it features some interesting names, such as a wild card like Hokies legend Michael Vick, the current head coach of Norfolk State.

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.