BLACKSBURG — The end of September is key for Virginia Tech’s athletic department. If the university’s Board of Visitors presents a financial, organization and leadership plan that increases the yearly athletic budget to close to $200 million and delivers on athletic director Whit Babcock’s ask of a $52 million investment, the Hokies’ athletic department could soon look drastically different.
Babcock detailed his vision for a “modernized” structure of the Hokies’ athletic department on Tuesday. Babcock, speaking 48 hours after football coach Brent Pry was fired after an 0-3 start to the season, said the additional financial support and new resources available would allow the athletic department to be restructured to fit the needs of the football program and the other sports on campus.
“I am confident you will soon see a modernized structure built for success in this rapidly changing environment of college athletics,” Babcock said, “more in line with professional football organizational structure on the football side of things, and from an athletic department standpoint, a structure and organization more in line with corporate business.”
The professional football organization structure could lead to Virginia Tech bringing in a general manager to handle the day-to-day operations and make decisions on how the program is run.
Notable new general managers in the ACC include Andrew Luck at Stanford and Ron Rivera at California.
Luck and Rivera oversee every aspect of their respective football programs. Rivera reports directly to Cal Chancellor Rich Lyons; and Luck works closely with the Stanford football coach on various aspects, including recruiting and roster management. Both also have a hand in fundraising and revenue generation.
A football general manager at Virginia Tech would allow Babcock, in this scenario, to remain in his role overseeing the other athletic programs and ensuring those programs are properly funded and capable of contending in the ACC and on a national level.
“It has become a $150 million-$200 million enterprise after all,” Babcock said.
University President Tim Sands, in a press release on Sunday, reaffirmed that Board of Visitors members J. Pearson and Ryan McCarthy are going to present a plan to the board by the end of this month that will “rapidly position” the football program among the best in the ACC.
“I and we will improve and evolve and adapt to this new landscape successfully,” Babcock said. “I’m excited for this new era and the forthcoming initiatives and opportunities planned. We truly can make a major move, as Dr. Sands referenced.”
The additional funding and modernized structure of the athletic department will be selling points for Virginia Tech during its search for a Pry’s replacement.
Babcock said Tuesday that the search process is in its preliminary stages.
“We will have a search committee, with some internal staff behind it,” Babcock said. “The committee will include members with extensive football experience and insight, Board of Visitors and campus representation, and executive leaders.
“As the AD, I will support and advise the committee during the process.”
Babcock didn’t reveal who is on the search committee and who is serving as the committee’s chair. A timeline also wasn’t set for when the new coach will be in place, though several potential candidates could be active coaches who wouldn’t be available until the end of the season.
“The committee’s collective expertise and strength will enable us to make the best decision on the next head coach of the Hokies,” Babcock said. “This will be a collaborative decision, and the committee voices will carry tremendous weight. We are confident our committee will make an outstanding selection, will be aligned with our Board of Visitors and campus leadership, and certainly in alignment within our committee when identifying our next head coach.”
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
damien.sordelett@roanoke.com
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