Report: Virginia Tech boosters pushing for Michael Vick to return as Hokies coach originally appeared on The Sporting News
Virginia Tech’s coaching search took a surprising turn this week as sources told On3’s Pete Nakos that some boosters have been quietly pushing for Michael Vick to make his way back to Blacksburg.
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The electrifying quarterback who led the Hokies to the 1999 national title game is in his first season as head coach at Norfolk State. Those close to the situation say influential boosters encouraged him to take the job as a stepping stone toward eventually leading his alma mater.
Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry on Sunday, just three games into his fourth season. Pry finished 16-24 with the Hokies and was unable to recapture the program’s former glory. Once a national power under Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster, VT has struggled to sustain success in the last decade, cycling through Justin Fuente and Pry without restoring its winning tradition.
Athletic director Whit Babcock is overseeing the current search, though his own job security is in question after back-to-back failed hires. Virginia Tech has not yet hired a search firm and a permanent replacement before November would be a surprise.
While the Hokies’ leadership has stressed the importance of prior head coaching experience, the idea of Vick returning has captured the imagination of some fans and boosters. It’s an extension of the “Prime Effect” with Deion Sanders at Colorado. Build with an NFL great as a figurehead to lift the program.
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Some insiders caution that Vick’s candidacy is premature. Norfolk State is 1-2 to start the season and Vick has just begun building a resume on the sidelines.
But his name carries weight in Blacksburg. As one source told On3, “It would not surprise anybody if Vick is a serious name at Virginia Tech in the years to come”
For now, proven business-minded coaches with experience managing NIL and the transfer portal remain the priority. But the possibility of Michael Vick patrolling the Hokies’ sideline someday remains a long-term vision of restoration.
