Brian White: A Unique Combination Of Youth And Experience

21 Comments

1. 

   Clark1 June 30, 2026 at 5:59 PM

   Loved Chris’s comment that the only reason President Sands got involved in athletics was because Whit “wasn’t doing his job”. The only thing of significance Whit did at Tech was keeping our sleeping giant asleep for a decade! He digressed over the years from being average to becoming incompetent! If we had been serious about athletics until just recently Whit would have been told to hit the road several years ago. Thank goodness he is gone. I look with great optimism, optimism that I haven’t had for years, for Tech in the future under Messrs White and Franklin!!!
2. 

   Cheesehokie June 24, 2026 at 1:45 AM

   Franklin will be running the athletic dept. White's job will be to coordinate with the other support entities (like HC and the new HV) to raise money and, otherwise, stay out of the way.
   1. 

      hokiehill1117 June 24, 2026 at 8:19 AM

      I'm fine with Franklin running the football department. I don't give a flip what he thinks about who our next basketball coach should be or anything else related to athletics for that matter. Yes, he carries the big stick as far as athletics, but it is overly reductive to think he will be involved in any decisions that don't directly impact football.
      1. 

         Cheesehokie June 25, 2026 at 4:15 AM

         Appreciate your sentiment and agree that's how things ought to be. But football, always King at Tech, will take on even greater importance now that the BOV, Administration, and Athletic Department are All In. Even if Franklin doesn't become the public-facing decision making authority in non-football matters, football will consume so much focus and resources that other sports will inevitably suffer.
3. 

   JHokieD June 23, 2026 at 10:23 PM

   I came specifically for your opinion. Appreciate the input because I have no idea how it all works, but hope he’s passionate and makes great decisions.
4. 

   VTBuck20 June 23, 2026 at 10:21 PM

   And it's a-r-t-i-c-l-e since we're being pedantic.
   1. 

      VTBuck20 June 23, 2026 at 10:22 PM

      Sorry, that was meant as a response below. My bad 😅
5. 

   naynay136 June 23, 2026 at 9:16 PM

   Great insights, thanks. But one thing I have been wondering is timing of this hire as it relates to search for new president. Why not wait and let new president weigh in on who he/she wants? How does this hire at this time impact relationship of White and new president moving forward? Does timing negatively impact White from the jump b/c he will not be viewed by key donors as new presidents “guy” and that may negatively impact (or at least cause second guessing of) donation levels? Curious your thoughts and other great minds at TSL on this. Thanks!
   1. 

      NokieHokie June 23, 2026 at 10:15 PM

      I think most presidents would be happy to take that pressure off of their hands. There is plenty of other people in the athletic committee and the BOV who can be responsible for the AD. Maybe the president will be happy to concentrate on academics.
   2. 

      Chris Coleman June 24, 2026 at 6:55 AM

      The president won't matter too much for athletics unless the AD and athletics committee don't do their jobs. The only reasons Sands ever got involved is because Whit wasn't doing his job. Besides, if you waited to hire a president before hiring a new AD, then you might not have a new AD until Christmas or later. Can't wait that long.
      1. 

         VicDrit June 25, 2026 at 7:45 PM

         Did Sands intervene on his own account, or was it big donors, John Rocovich, and the BOV that actually got the action going?
   3. 

      USAFhokie June 24, 2026 at 8:23 AM

      no
6. 

   khakiblue June 23, 2026 at 9:00 PM

   If Tech is winning and recruiting well in 2-3 years, nobody will care where this guy came from. If football struggles, the lack of Power 4 AD experience will be one of the first criticisms.
7. 

   yukoncornelius June 23, 2026 at 8:32 PM

   Very underwhelming. A mile wide and an inch deep.. Wait and see with this one
8. 

   Tailgate Guru June 23, 2026 at 8:12 PM

   I would very much like to see Tech hire an important senior administrator - maybe a deputy AD, maybe some other title - who has experience working at a well-run P2 operation. I think one of Whit and Tech’s problems from the jump is that there was no one with high major experience at someplace other than or more well developed than Tech. It’s no surprise that Tech football started looking like a G5 program under Fuente. Franklin and his people are a big positive in that regard, and White has family for a sounding board, but having an administrator that appreciates what it takes to win in the B1G or SEC has value, whether or not Tech ever makes that jump.
   1. 

      turn2296 June 24, 2026 at 12:59 PM

      Good points. Babcock and Fuente tried to take VT from dusty old dinosaur to G5, when really we needed big boy operations (P2) mindset and experience
9. 

   govt86 June 23, 2026 at 8:11 PM

   Do you think Coach Franklin wanted someone with great football pedigree even to be his colleague if not boss? You have to build a team with complimentary players. If White builds fundraising and increases other sports, and Franklin stays long enough, this could work. I am not privy to details so I observe the big picture and hope it works out.
10. 

    HokieTC June 23, 2026 at 8:06 PM

    Looks like a BIG step forward to me!
11. 

    HokieBurger June 23, 2026 at 8:06 PM

    Enjoyed the artical. One suggested edit toward the end... 'but at the same time, it seems like the AD isn’t quite as big a cog in the machine as IT once was. IT’s still very important. But is IT as important as the people who make up Hokie Ventures? Maybe, maybe not. We’ll have to see how it all plays out. Kinda boxing the ladies out there. :)
    1. 

       VTBuck20 June 23, 2026 at 10:19 PM

       Who's the last big-time football-centric female AD you've seen? Chill out.
       1. 

          HokieBurger June 24, 2026 at 9:44 AM

          I get that, but the subject of that sentence is the job/roll of athletic director. That job isn't a man or a woman regardless of who we hire.