Virginia Tech coaching search: Eddie Royal reveals what he wants in next Hokies head coach

After parting ways with Brent Pry last month, Virginia Tech is getting a head start on its coaching search. The Hokies announced their search committee Friday, including former star receiver and current ACC Network analyst Eddie Royal.

Royal joins the likes of Bruce Arians and Bud Foster as members of the committee as the school works to replace Pry. Virginia Tech promoted offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery to interim head coach, and Royal praised the way the team responded last time out against NC State.

As for what he wants to see in the next full-time coach, Royal has a list of characteristics. Between recruiting success and clear leadership, he presented a high bar, but said it’s what his alma mater needs.

“When you talk about the next coach, there’s characteristics that you need,” Royal told Jim Rome. “And especially at a place like Virginia Tech, you’ve got to win the state of Virginia when it comes to recruiting. So you need a guy who can really recruit – a guy who’s been through it. You don’t want to have to question if the coach knows what he’s doing or not. So he needs to have a clear-cut plan and [be] a guy who can win over a team. You’ve got to be able to win over a locker room and command respect when you walk into a room.

“That’s the thing that people forget about. Yeah, Xs and Os and all of that matter. But when a coach talks to you and he looks you in the eyes, will you run through a wall for that guy? That’s kind of what Virginia Tech needs to get back to is finding a leader that can do that, can motivate these guys to go out there and play their best brand of football.”

Eddie Royal: ‘I know I’m asking for a lot’

When he looked back on Virginia Tech teams of old, Royal said there were times the Hokies were out-matched and could have been staring down losses. But there weren’t questions about effort and players putting their best foot forward. That’s what he wants to see in the future – not to mention the ability to land big-time talent, especially at quarterback.

“That’s when Tech was at its peak was when the talent wasn’t always better than the team you played, but you knew it was going to be a war until the fourth quarter and that guys were going to give it their all,” Royal said. “You never had to question the guy beside you giving an effort. So finding a coach who can provide all of that, who can develop talent.

“You need a good quarterback at Virginia Tech. It starts with that in college football. If you have a good quarterback, you have a chance. I know I’m asking for a lot, but there’s a coach out there who can provide that. That’s what Virginia Tech needs.”