There are certain moments when a head coach's fortunes flip for good.
Virginia Tech football coach Justin Fuente avoided one of those moments in late 2020, as a win over Virginia in the Commonwealth Cup ensured there wouldn't be a coaching change in Blacksburg. Fuente entered this season on the hot seat, but the Hokies opened with a win over No. 10 North Carolina and took a 3-1 record into their home showdown with Notre Dame.
Virginia Tech took three separate leads against Notre Dame, and it seemed to be in front for good when it went up 29-21 with 3:55 to play. But the Hokies surrendered 10 points -- including an inexplicable tying 2-point conversion -- to fall 32-29.
For Fuente, the loss flipped everything, and there was no going back. After going 2-3 since the Notre Dame defeat, he's out as Virginia Tech's coach with a 43-31 record in five-plus seasons in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech's hire of Fuente earned high marks. After an excellent run at Memphis, he looked like the right man to energize the Hokies after Hall of Famer Frank Beamer's retirement. At first, he backed up the hype, leading Virginia Tech to the ACC championship game in his first season -- he won league Coach of the Year honors that fall -- and followed up with another Top 25 finish in 2017.
But things steadily declined from there, as Fuente won more than six games just once. Virginia Tech had an exodus of players in 2018.
The Hokies are now in the market for Fuente's successor. Although this job isn't LSU or USC, it should still be desirable for a range of candidates. Virginia Tech is a football-focused program in the always-winnable ACC Coastal Division, and it boasted national-level success under Beamer. Whit Babcock is a respected, well-connected athletic director. Fan support is excellent, although Virginia Tech has some financial limitations that candidates would need to investigate.
A big factor here is personality. Babcock needs to prioritize candidates the fans can truly embrace. They were used to the folksy, affable Beamer for decades. Fuente had a frostier approach, which turned the mood after the first few seasons.
Here's a look at 11 names of head coaches and coordinators the Hokies could consider to replace Fuente.
Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell: Chadwell brings a combination of creative schemes and fun personality that the school could benefit from after Fuente's tenure. Chadwell, 44, made Coastal Carolina into America's mullet-wearing darlings in 2020 and has continued to win there. The Tennessee native knows the region well and would instantly bond with Hokies fans. The only concern is Chadwell has never worked for a Power 5 program, but he's 87-54 as a college head coach.
Louisiana coach Billy Napier: Surprised to see Napier's name here? Don't be. He's typically mentioned for SEC coach vacancies and has thus far shown little interest in leaving Lafayette. But several sources have told me Virginia Tech is on the short list of jobs that would truly interest him. The 42-year-old was born in Tennessee and began his coaching career in South Carolina. Napier served as a Clemson assistant from 2006 to 2010, and although his tenure didn't end well, he knows the league and the region well. He's 37-12 at Louisiana.
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson: Some are wondering why Clawson's name isn't surfacing more in a very active coaching carousel. The short answer is: The right jobs haven't opened yet. Clawson, who has guided Wake Forest to a historic 9-1 start and the program's first AP top-10 ranking earlier this season, makes a lot of sense for the Hokies. He's an experienced, widely respected coach who knows the ACC and knows the state, as he was Richmond's head coach from 2004 to 2007. Although Clawson would be recruiting a broader pool of players at Virginia Tech, he has familiarity with the high school scene in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Clawson, 54, might be a Wake Forest lifer, but he also could see value in moving to a program that can consistently compete for titles. Expect Virginia Tech to take a long look at the Wake Forest coach.
SMU coach Sonny Dykes: He's one of the nicest guys in coaching and would easily connect with Hokies fans. Dykes, 51, also is an excellent offensive coach who has put up good numbers everywhere he's been. He has done wonders at SMU, which is 8-2 this season and 25-8 since the start of the 2019 season. The concern is that Dykes lacks natural ties to the region and league and likely has a more attractive option (TCU) that is much closer to home. He also could remain at SMU, which is set to give him a significant raise.
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables: Like many of Dabo Swinney's assistants, Venables has shown little interest in leaving Clemson. He also has two sons on the team, and neither one is a senior. But if Venables wants to lead his own program, especially at the Power 5 level, he might need to make the move soon. There simply aren't very many defensive coaches north of 50 who get their first head-coaching opportunities, and he'll turn 51 next month. Venables' coordinator credentials are impeccable, and he knows the ACC extremely well. He's very intense during games and, like most defensive coordinators, would have to show he has the right personality/demeanor to oversee a program like Virginia Tech.
Boston College coach Jeff Hafley: Unlike the SEC, the ACC doesn't have much recent history of coaches changing jobs within the league. But Hafley would be an interesting option for the Hokies and Babcock. He has been solid in two years at Boston College, one of the tougher Power 5 programs because of location and resources. Hafley, 42, would bring a strong defensive mindset to Virginia Tech and would energize the recruiting efforts. The New Jersey native has a likable personality, and he worked at Pitt early in his career and knows the mid-Atlantic area and East Coast well.
Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko: He's one of the nation's most respected defensive playcallers, and seems ready for an opportunity to lead his own program. Although Elko has spent the past three years at Texas A&M, his coaching roots are much closer to Virginia Tech. Elko, 44, coached under Clawson at Richmond and spent time in the ACC under Clawson as Wake Forest's defensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016. The New Jersey native is very familiar with the mid-Atlantic and ACC footprint but also would bring knowledge from his recent stops with Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer: The Beamer name is royalty in Blacksburg, and Shane grew up around the Virginia Tech program. He also has shown his head-coaching talents during his first year at South Carolina, which is 5-5 with a win over Florida. The problem for the Hokies is the timing. Beamer's connection to South Carolina might run even deeper, and he has repeatedly called his current role a dream job. The 44-year-old almost certainly won't bail on South Carolina, a program that gave him his first head-coaching chance when few Power 5 programs would.
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott: He entered the season as the hottest assistant coach on the market. Clemson's struggles offensively have lowered Elliott's stock, but not to a point where he falls out of consideration for jobs, especially those in the ACC. Elliott, who could have had the Tennessee job just last cycle, has been the offensive playcaller for two national championship teams and six ACC championship teams. The 41-year-old has a laid-back but likable personality, and he could provide a nice boost for the Hokies' recruiting. Virginia Tech also has never had a Black head coach in football.
Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis: Some might see Gattis as a stretch because of Michigan's struggles before this season. But he always seemed like a candidate who could quickly enter the conversation for Power 5 head-coaching jobs. Michigan's strong season and efficient offense might provide the boost Gattis needs. Gattis, 37, played in the ACC at Wake Forest and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina. He's a strong recruiter who knows the area from stops at Penn State, Vanderbilt and elsewhere.
Charlotte coach Will Healy: He's a long shot here, mainly because his record at Charlotte (14-15) doesn't blow anyone away. But if Healy gets an audience with the Hokies, he will impress them. The 36-year-old has a magnetic personality and is a genuine people person who will excite the fan base if given the chance. Healy also comes from Tennessee and played his college ball in Virginia, at Richmond. Like Chadwell, he lacks Power 5 experience, and he has been a head coach only since 2016.