Bob Chesney is what I think represents the best choice.
The funny thing is, as VT completely over-compensates (not that I'm complaining because some change was definitely needed) By creating an immense budget and a committee to oversee the selection process, the answer may be quite obvious.
Why oh why have we missed on both choices so far? Well let's take a closer look.....
#1 We needed the correct Personality to match the Hokie Culture.
#2 We needed someone with head coach experience that has built a program successfully.
Now we look at the last 2 fails......
Fuente - Had the head coach experience rebuilding a program but Missed on the Personality.
(That said, Fuente would have still succeeded if he had proper funding and support)
PRY - Had the personality to fit well with Hokie culture, but never filled head coach role and built a program.
So do we need an extra 120 million in the budget and a committee now to make a good decision?
Looking at someone like Chesney......he knows and loves the area, he understands the lay of the recruiting land, and he has successfully filled the role of a head coach and rebuilt a program.
How hard is this really?
Do we need a flashy name so we can start all over again in 3-5 years?
Do we need a coach that treat's Blacksburg like a rung on a ladder?
Do we need a big name so ESPN can talk about our coach but ignore our program?
To me, this is a pretty easy decision when you have guys like Chesney.
The problem is, you probably have a few good people like that, but the list grows short when you consider coaches that already have inroads with recruiting and more importantly, have roots in the area.
A 3-4 year run followed by starting from scratch again is not what VT needs.
We need to build a program with a guy that knows what he is doing and also wants to stick around.
We needs someone like Bob Chesney.
GO Hokies!!
** Edited by jonnyhawk at 10/16/2025, 7:33:43 PM
74 Replies
T
TDVick
9mo
deal with the hiring circus all the time. Chesney seems to be in a similar mold. I'd like to find someone who has had success regionally and that thinks there is potential at VT and really wants to be here.
(In response to this post by jonnyhawk)
9mo
(In response to this post by jonnyhawk)
9mo
When it is 3rd and 9 and we throw a 5 yard pass, no amount of $ is going to fix that.
All the $ in the world doesn't mean a coach will evaluate talent correctly and spend the NIL $ appropriately.
Both coaches made HUGE mistakes that you aren't even mentioning. Biggest was not recruiting VIRGINIA. Franklin did pretty well with the recruits from Virginia.
(In response to this post by jonnyhawk)
9mo
The job of the head coach is not about playcalling.
(In response to this post by Jethro Tull)
9mo
(In response to this post by Jethro Tull)
9mo
(In response to this post by BackInTheBurg)
9mo
them employees which will then allow them to unionize and do collective bargaining.
(In response to this post by Techsupport)
9mo
direction soon which will reduce the bloated salaries for college coaches, administrators and staff.
At VT, with Revenue Sharing, VT football gets about 12% of the athletic revenues. That % will decrease with the new money coming in. If the players are paid what they are worth and using the NFL as a barometer, if the players start to get paid more, NCAA coaches, administrators and staff should see a decrease in their wages.
** Edited by AirborneHokie96 at 10/17/2025, 9:11:46 AM
(In response to this post by BackInTheBurg)
9mo
** Edited by marcbvtgm at 10/17/2025, 1:31:18 PM
(In response to this post by Jethro Tull)
9mo
And maybe he'll end up being great
But VT is like the Browns
Currently a toxic environment, so regardless of who we hire, they'll fail and do better somewhere else (or be grossly under qualified and fail but have a country accent)
(In response to this post by jonnyhawk)
9mo
The stated expectation is a total reboot of the entire program and at least the football side of the athletic department. Will be interesting to see how far that really goes. I'd be thrilled if they gutted Merryman and brought in entirely out-of-the-box thinkers who do not care a whit (lol) about Frank Beamer, the lunch pail, Enter Sandman, etc. I'll be shocked to really see all of the good ol' boy SW VA mentality gone from the football side of Merryman, but it needs to happen. Brent Pry is Exhibit A of why.
Do I expect that to happen? No, I don't. I've been in the organizational management game for 30 years as a practitioner and teacher. That kind of true change is rare though at this time I do think there it at least some awareness of the dire financial implications if this kind of change does not happen. We'll see how well that incentivizes the process.
(In response to this post by CPVT3)
9mo
When are Hokie fans going to learn to stop with this nonsense?
(In response to this post by jonnyhawk)
J
jrc3rd
9mo
a HC and assistant coaches that have the personality to sell the university to recruits and will participate in "meet and greets" with alumni.
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
of the Hokie Club do that. If a coach wins the fans will be happy.
Why are fans so dumb saying they want a warm and fuzzy person when all that really matters is winning?
** Edited by King of Hokies at 10/17/2025, 10:13:07 AM
(In response to this post by jrc3rd)
R
RJHokie
9mo
and Babs is no longer communicating.
But to your point, most fans have always desired some personal interaction with the various sports coaches, and the meet and greet functions serve this purpose. But not all coaches are comfortable in this environment (Fu), and some are asshats like former Hoowah coach Al Groh. Also, fan interactions with the various coaches and/or their assistants and staff often provide interesting information regarding the program, players, coaching philosophies, etc., and probably are better fundraisers than someone like a Hokie Club executive director that tends to be purely transactional in their communications.
At the Blacksburg Sports Club luncheons (30 meetings scheduled in the current club fiscal year ending 6/30/26) we usually have a sports head coach or assistant coach, staff, athletic department administrator, or Bill Roth/Mike Burnop from VT as the featured speaker. These folks usually provide a lot of information and insight to the various sports programs. The meeting schedule and scheduled speakers are on the club website. Members usually attend the meetings based on their interests.
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
herring to insist on it. The #1 characteristic of the head coach is that they know how to run a winning program. The #2 is that they have some integrity.
Every other priority should be #100 because they don't actually matter. Sure if they are folksy and relatable that's great. But it shouldn't appear anywhere on the list of attributes from the hiring authority. Too often, though, our dumb fans and AD make it a real thing.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
R
RJHokie
9mo
administrations. When a coach is hired the contracts usually include commitments to meet, glad hand, whatever with donors, particularly those with a lot of $. This is the fundraising obligation part of the contract. When Babcock hired Fu the amount of required donor engagement apparently was not adequately disclosed. Frank enjoyed it and was always accommodating, as was Pry. Fu didn’t like it.
A lot of fans take what they can get since they are usually the ones paying for it through donations, ticket sales, merchandise purchases, etc. Some fans are more aggressive than others though.
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
very best coaches are typically not glad-handers. Almost all the most successful coaches are focused on football 24-7 and don't really care to interact with donors. Except maybe the most wealthy donors who will take them and their wives on nice off-season trips.
But you can't name a NC-winning coach since Les Miles that was a down-to-earth guy who loved interacting with fans. They don't exist.
The insistence Hokie fans have with prioritizing that quality is a false narrative that only leads to failing to go after or even getting rid of super competent guys (Greenberg, Fu) because they may not be that patient with media, fans and/or admin. And that's self-defeating, foolish and downright just stupid.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
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jrc3rd
9mo
out with the coaches.
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
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RJHokie
9mo
the big donors.
(In response to this post by jrc3rd)
9mo
(In response to this post by jrc3rd)
9mo
I might get roasted for this, but when Fuente came in, Bud should have moved on or retired. We had one foot in the past and one in the future. Not to mention the Ballein stuff. I absolutely think Fuente could have been successful and a large part(not all) of the failure was because of others.
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
have the cajones to own a completely new direction.
(In response to this post by GobblerCE)
9mo
Then he retired and foisted Justin Hamilton and Jack Tyler on Fuente. Ugh.
(In response to this post by GobblerCE)
9mo
route in football over the last 10 years we would be in great shape. At least if you lose a football coach for a better job, you arent paying him to leave and the program's profile is better off (team maybe not so much since alot of your better players will likely take off too).
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
Who f-ing cares about a winning coach's personality
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
connection is just plain weird. Regarding the former, how many times did we hear - “but Pry is a nice guy”? So is my neighbor but what does that have to do with anything related to results? By the way, I have it from multiple very good sources that few players actually respected Pry. That matters much more. And the VT connection infatuation is such small time, myopic thinking but it continues to live on. To the extent that it does, it casts the VT donor/fan base as hillbillies in the modern era.
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
V
Vippie1
9mo
has been for the past couple of decades with an obsession with incestuous hiring practices VT would be a regional backwater overgrown second tier public university.
(In response to this post by HoustonHokie)
9mo
Considering how far this program is in the toilet, I would say the sources are right there with them
(In response to this post by HoustonHokie)
9mo
to the vast majority of players who are/have given their best effort misses the mark. Lumping them all together makes it simple for you. But keep in mind this is all a creation of Whit and Pry. Imagine, Pry said just this offseason that “this was his best roster”. Idiocy beyond belief that some of us saw from the beginning. Where were you?
(In response to this post by capitals1)
9mo
"They're nice."
That shouldn't be a pro, that should be a prerequisite
Don't hire a mean person lol
(In response to this post by HoustonHokie)
R
RiverVT
9mo
From a very reliable source that worked in athletics, you can throw all the money at the program its not going to happen simply you have a very low iq how to manage the program to make it relevant.
I am starting to believe him.
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
N
NOFX
9mo
He's been at JMU for a year a half and done well, just like every other JMU coach this century has. Taking over for Curt Cignetti and going 14-5 isn't exactly earth-shattering. Before that he was at Holy Cross, another program that had plenty of success before him and will have plenty of success after him. Other than being a young guy from nearby I just don't see the appeal
(In response to this post by jonnyhawk)
9mo
But he has zero experience as a P5 head coach. No way he’s ready for this job
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
Seems like he is exactly what we need given the stats on 1st time HC in P5
I prefer someone with energy and fire who is hungry to prove and win.
(In response to this post by Hokie1992)
9mo
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
Bob Chesney's first year as HC at Holy Cross was in 2018. Prior to Chesney, Tom Gilmore was their HC (2004-2017) and his overall record was 72-81.
2004: 3-8
2005: 6-5
2006: 7-4
2007: 7-4
2008: 7-4
2009: 9-3 (L 1st Round of NCAA DI Playoffs)
2010: 6-5
2011: 6-5
2012: 2-9
2013: 3-9
2014: 4-8
2015: 6-5
2016: 4-7
2017: 2-5
Prior to Gilmore, Dan Allen (RIP) was their HC (1996-2003) and his overall record was 63–95.
1996: 2-9
1997: 4-7
1998: 2-9
1999: 3-8
2000: 7-4
2001: 4-6
2002: 4-8
2003: 1-11
(In response to this post by NOFX)
N
NOFX
9mo
Does that qualify you to coach Va Tech??? If so we've fallen a long way
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
9mo
If that's good enough, then VT needs to look at other non-P2 coaches. Big Ten or SEC coaches probably aren't realistic. Who are the ones worth a look?
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
goes to Eddie Anderson, who was Holy Cross' HC 2 different times (1933-38 & 1950-64) and had an overall record of 129-67-8. BTW Eddie was elected to the College Football HoF in 1971.
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
From my Chesney profile...
"He took over for Tom Gilmore, who coached there from 2004-17, finished with a 72-81 record and made just one playoff appearance. Gilmore only won more than seven games once in his tenure.
Chesney went 5-6 in his first season there — the only losing season of his career. However, by the end of his tenure, he had posted a 44-21 record, a 28-4 mark in the Patriot League, four FCS playoff appearances and four top-25 rankings, including a top-10 ranking in 2022. Of his 21 losses at Holy Cross, four were in the playoffs and four were to FBS programs. He beat FBS programs Buffalo and UConn as well."
Holy Cross is 0-6 this year after going 6-6 last season. So here's how it works out...
13 years before Chesney: 72-81
With Chesney: 44-21
Without Chesney: 6-12 (including 0-6 this year)
Overall without Chesney since 2004, they are 78-93. With Chesney they went 44-21.
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 10/16/2025, 7:29:21 PM
(In response to this post by NOFX)
N
NOFX
9mo
Now we're going after Holy Cross success?? We're aiming lower and lower
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
9mo
kept one of his hands tied behind his back the entire tenure.
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
That's not working out quite so well.
(In response to this post by NOFX)
J
jdkhokie
9mo
coaching staff, is slightly higher than the long-term 0.654 rate from teams Bill Belichick has been affiliated with across his career mostly the Patriots.
(In response to this post by jesuisvtguy)
9mo
undermined him from Day 1? Also, it appears VT (most likely Ballein again) didn't make the necessary resources available to Fuente because he wanted a "Beamer type HC" at VT. I doubt you will find any example of a HC who was successful under those working conditions.
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
If Tech had hired Cignetti in December of 2021, they would have hired a coach with zero years of FBS head coaching experience who brought two coordinators with him who had been on his staff since he was a D2 coach. That would not have been popular. But it would have worked, most likely.
Like I said, it's a crap shoot. Saying one thing can't work, or one thing is more likely to work, isn't accurate. Everybody has their preferences, and I get that. He's not No. 1 on my list, either. But it's not a long shot that it could work. Ultimately nobody makes me 100% comfortable.
(In response to this post by NOFX)
F
fordham
9mo
More coaches
** Edited by fordham at 10/17/2025, 5:27:17 AM
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
V
VPI_1998
9mo
that ends up staying there a decade and wins 60% of his games.
(In response to this post by fordham)
9mo
schools where I though they would be an absolute lock to do well, and they just weren't.
Scott Frost to Nebraska for one. His accomplishments at UCF were fine enough to get him hired almost anywhere. And he goes back to Nebraska, his alma mater where he was a legend at QB. And who among us thought it wouldn't work out?
I'm also surprised that Luke Fickell didn't work out at Wisconsin, at least so far.
And I have to say, I am shocked by Cignetti's meteoric rise at IU. No one saw it coming.
** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 10/17/2025, 12:26:29 AM
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
N
NOFX
9mo
and the odds of us being right back here 4 years from now aren't that low. I'd feel a lot better about someone more proven. I'm sick of rolling the dice on longshots
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
9mo
all 3 NCAA division levels including both DI subdivisions. At some point he will get a shot to be the HC at a P4/P2 school unless he really screws up at JMU. Odds say that he will likely have a winning record at that school too. If that school isn't VT, then will you still be okay with the decision because VT opted to hire a "proven" P4/P2 HC who has already made his millions and may (or may not) have lost the eye of the tiger?
(In response to this post by NOFX)
N
NOFX
9mo
Hell, Fuente had a winning record. If he ends up doing great somewhere else, of course I'll kick myself. And if he gets hired by VT and ends up being subpar you will kick yourself. All I'm saying is hiring a Virginia Tech head coach based off his success at Holy Cross, Assumption, and Salve Regina is a larger risk than we need to take.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
9mo
Assuming the entire Athletic Department is 100% behind him as he reshapes the "VT football culture" into whatever image he wants it to be. As Chris pointed out earlier coaching hires is a crapshoot, so I have accepted that any hire will be successful or a failure. There are only 2 things that really bother me when it comes to personnel decisions.
1. When an organization hires someone for a position and someone else within the organization is allowed to undermine that person.
2. When someone makes changes and still ends up trying to put a square peg into a round hole because it feels "comfortable" to the person.
(In response to this post by NOFX)
N
NOFX
9mo
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
and b) causing me to wonder if no one knows his record during his play 4 years
(In response to this post by st_andrew)
N
NOFX
9mo
is not good enough for VT? Come on
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
Earlier in his career he won. Then he started losing. Then he started having players torture one another. Or maybe he started the torture and then the losing began.
Either way, he sucks
(In response to this post by NOFX)
9mo
(In response to this post by King of Hokies)
9mo
torture was proven. But Fitzgerald denied he knew about it. Which makes him a perjurer as well as a torturer.
Most people with reading skills and a smidgeon of common sense knowing how college football programs are run could understand this difference
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
9mo
really have great success. I think they made the NCAA DI Playoffs his junior or senior year. If people want to talk about Crusaders' "glory years" in football, then you have to go all the way back to the late 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
9mo
Risk on the choice of HC is high. Big name and big salary could bring big results but if it fails it would be the complete implosion/destruction of the football program at VT.
Trying to find the "next big thing" coach is risky. Probably means no head coach experience or lower level. Failure will devalue the program even more.
Chesney is in the middle. Affordable yet a proven winner who has built up.programs. knows the "market" and enough of the VT "culture" personality without the connections to be appealing to a wider element of the fan base. If he is successful yes he could leave in a few years but he seems like the type who could choose to stay.
I had the opportunity to hear him speak at a corporate event at JMU in the spring. Very impressive in person and he hits the mark on that front. He might be Fuente with a personality and that matters today as CEO of a program.
I attended a Hokie club event in Fuentes second year. He sat at my table due to sponsorship. He talked to people around him but you could tell he hated being there. I don't blame him in some respects because I'm sure that gets old and people act like they "know" you but thats the job.
Why this stood out is i attended a Hokie club basketball tipoff event and again due to sponsorship Buzz Williams sat at my table. He publicly said he didn't like those events but you know what he did. When he arrived he went around to every person at the table. Introduced himself and handed out his famous Buzz sayings card. His wife was there and she was delightful. Did Buzz like doing it? Hell no but he knew it was his job and it was required. I said that night that Fuente would fail regardless of resources.
My main point is Chesney has the foundation of it all. A winner. A builder. A "young" guy. A PR pro.
Not saying he is perfect or ideal but he might the best solution for now.
(In response to this post by jonnyhawk)