Virginia Tech Hot Board: ESPN names 5 candidates to replace Brent Pry

Three games was all it took for Virginia Tech to move on from coach Brent Pry this season. The Hokies got off to an 0-3 start in their fourth year under Pry and made the decision to part ways with him following a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion over the weekend.

Offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery is set to take over in the interim. But the search for the next Hokies head man begins now.

ESPN put together a list of five candidates best suited to take the job. Some might be more of a long shot than others, but you can view the full list below.

South Carolina HC Shane Beamer

Beamer’s ties to the program are obvious. He is the son of former Hokies head coach Frank Beamer and as the associate head coach under his father from 2011-15 .

Shane Beamer has been the coach at South Carolina since 2021 and led them to a 31-23 record in that span. But even with his family ties to the program, Virginia Tech would be hard pressed to pull him away from the SEC.

USF HC Alex Golesh

Golesh led the Bulls to back-to-back top 25 victories against Boise State and Florida to open this season. Although he wasn’t able to make it three in a row against Miami this past week, he’s put himself squarely on the radar of just about every school in the country looking for a new coach.

Golesh is 16-13 and in his third season as the head coach at USF after serving as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. He’d be the next candidate up for Virginia Tech if it can’t persuade Beamer to leave Columbia.

Memphis HC Ryan Silverfield

Silverfield has been on a tear with the Tigers of late, going 24-5 since the start of the 2023 season. Overall, he’s been the coach since 2020 and directed Memphis to a 4-0 bowl record in that span as well.

That seems like a coaching waiting for his next opportunity. Perhaps that could come in Blacksburg.

James Madison HC Bob Chesney

Chesney holds a 121-51 overall record as a college coach. He took over James Madison in 2024 after previously serving as the coach at Holy Cross from 2018-23.

Chesney, 48, directed the Dukes to a 9-4 finish in his inaugural season. His opportunity at the FBS level could come sooner rather than later, and he’s already in the state.

Southern Miss HC Charles Huff

Huff is only in his first season at Southern Miss but brings previous head coaching experience from his time at Marshall. He led the Thundering Herd to a 32-20 overall record, including 10-3 in 2024.

Huff has experience coaching the region and played at Hampton University in Virginia. He could be another name to watch as Virginia Tech gets started on its coaching search.