Frank Beamer’s legendary Virginia Tech career ended at the 2015 Independence Bowl, where the Hokies won a wild 55-52 shootout against Tulsa. Now Tech’s adding the coach from the other sideline.
The Hokies wrapped up their offensive coordinator search Monday, naming former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery to fill the role.
“Philip Montgomery is one of the most respected offensive minds in college football,” Hokies head coach Brent Pry said in a release. “His ability to develop quarterbacks and build explosive offenses will be instrumental in our continued growth as a program. Philip’s experience as both a head coach and a coordinator will help us maximize our talent and put our players in the best position to succeed.”
The news comes 12 days after Tyler Bowen took the offensive line coach job with Ohio State, giving Tech its second coordinator vacancy of the offseason. Unlike the winding, nearly seven-week search that ended with Arizona Cardinals assistant Sam Siefkes in the defensive coordinator role, this hunt took a little over a week, with Pry opting for a more seasoned coach to direct the offense.
The 53-year-old Montgomery comes to the Hokies after spending 2024 as the co-offensive coordinator of the Birmingham Stallion of the USFL, though he has a wealth of experience before that, spending eight years as Tulsa’s head coach and serving as the coordinator at Auburn, Baylor and Houston.
“I’m honored to join Virginia Tech and work alongside Coach Pry and this outstanding staff,” Montgomery said in the school’s release. “The tradition of Hokie football, combined with the passion of its fan base, make this an exciting opportunity. I look forward to implementing an aggressive, balanced offensive attack that puts our players in a position to thrive.”
A one-time Texas high school coach, Montgomery has several impressive quarterbacks on his résumé, helping tutor Bryce Petty and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III at Baylor and Kevin Kolb and Case Keenum at Houston. In 2013, he was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Montgomery’s one season in the USFL ended with a championship, with the Stallions being the highest-scoring team in the league.
He spent a year at Auburn as the offensive coordinator in 2023 but was fired after the Tigers had the No. 92 offense in the country thanks to quarterback transfer Payton Thorne’s struggles.
Montgomery was Tulsa’s head coach from 2015-22, going 43-53 and tying for a regular season conference championship in 2020. His teams made four bowl games, including the 2015 Independence Bowl against the Hokies.
His early offenses typically stood out, with his 2016 team being the first in FBS history to have a 3,000-yard passer (Dane Evans), two 1,000-yard rushers (James Flanders and D’Angelo Brewer) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Keevan Lucas and Joshua Atkinson).
He got the Tulsa job after successful runs as a coordinator at Houston and Baylor. With the Bears from 2008-14, he was a part of teams that won 10 or more games four times. After Montgomery took over sole coordinator duties in 2012, the team finished No. 1 nationally in total offense twice and second once. His 2013 group averaged 618.8 yards and 52.4 points per game.
His prize quarterback was Griffin, who won the Heisman Trophy after an outstanding 2011 season, when he threw for 4,293 yards and 37 touchdowns and added 699 yards and 10 more scores on the ground. Montgomery also mentored Nick Florence, who set the school record with 4,309 passing yards in 2012, and Petty, who threw for 4,200 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2013 to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Before Baylor, Montgomery spent five years at Houston from 2003-07, elevated to coordinator in his final season. The Cougars ranked fourth nationally in total offense (513.1 ypg) in 2007.
The Eastland, Texas, native started his coaching career at the high school ranks in the Lone Star State, with time spent at Denton High (2002), Stephensville (1996-2001) and Celeste (1995).
He played quarterback and free safety at Tarleton State in the early 1990s before getting his first coaching gig at his alma mater as a graduate assistant.