The more I look into it the more I think Pat Fitzgerald would be a strong
choice. The guy is a hell of a coach. He has been found innocent of whatever went on a Northwestern so I don't see why it would be an issue.
31 Replies
10mo
Pat isn't just a good fit, he's a perfect fit. He couldn't be any more motivated to coach now and have a job without the low talent ceiling that he was more than willing to work with at North Western as an Alma Mater.
Now that Pat will unlikely feel any pressure to go back to NW he would be more than willing to go to a job with a much better path to victory in the ACC and a much higher talent acquisition ceiling at a school where Football is first.
Annnnnnd.... He's younger than Brent Pry and has 17 years of P4 HC experience.
He's the guy.
He never got to reach his potential at a school like NW, VT gives him that chance.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
10mo
He got let go from Northwestern just before the 2023 season, when he was caught up in that hazing scandal (it has since been proven he wasn’t involved and bore no responsibility). He then served as a volunteer coach at Loyola Academy, a high school in Wilmette IL where his son Ryan was a quarterback. Ryan Fitzgerald graduated this year and is now a freshman quarterback for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Don’t know if Pat Fitzgerald has other younger kids or what, but with his son now in college and his having been away from college football for two years, the time may be right for him to get back into the game.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
10mo
The one who can enter a top-rated prospect's home and say I can get you to the NFL
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
10mo
Hell he hasn't coached in college since the 80s. I think Gruden would be a massive mistake.
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
10mo
** Edited by reestuart at 9/16/2025, 8:44:29 AM
** Edited by reestuart at 9/16/2025, 8:44:46 AM
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
10mo
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
K
KCHokie2
10mo
Then hire Pat Fitzgerald's little brother Skippy to handle the defense.
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
10mo
for the direction of VTFB.
(In response to this post by KCHokie2)
10mo
** Edited by 40ozDistrict at 9/15/2025, 10:35:10 PM
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
10mo
Honestly when was the last time he was a successful head coach?
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
10mo
years ago.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
10mo
(In response to this post by Concord Dan)
10mo
Gruden and Mullen are my Top 2 candidates.
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
10mo
Other than being a big name in football and success a couple of decades ago, what gives you confidence that he would make a good college coach. Recruiting is insane. Now you have to recruit high school, recruit your own team to keep them out of the portal and recruit the portal to keep up. And those emails would be used against him by every coach he went up against on the trail.
(In response to this post by ForgeHokie)
10mo
He had a winning record in only 6 of his 15 seasons as a head coach.
I think the perception of Gruden is much much rosier than the reality of Gruden.
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
10mo
out of this abyss. I would prefer someone who has experiece in NIL, portal.
(In response to this post by Rationalist)
10mo
To make a big splash and prove that we are serious about competing NOW!
(In response to this post by Rationalist)
10mo
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
10mo
he definitely should be looked at.
(In response to this post by brotherwood)