Virginia Tech football is in a difficult position after the program decided to part ways with head coach Brent Pry, who had been with the Hokies since 2022. The decision comes following a disastrous 0-3 start to the 2025 season.
With Pry gone, former Hokies quarterback Michael Vick spoke on being named as a potential candidate for the position, while Virginia Tech’s ACC rivals are reportedly trying to lure away recruits amid the coaching change.
Michael Vick Addresses Virginia Tech Job as ACC Rivals Target Recruits
Pry’s firing from Virginia Tech followed an embarrassing 45-26 home loss to Old Dominion. With him out the door, several coaches around college football have been mentioned as potential replacements, including Vick.
Vick, currently the head coach at Norfolk State, an HBCU, played quarterback for the Hokies from 1999 to 2000. He finished third in Heisman voting in 1999 and sixth in 2000 before being selected No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL Draft.
While Vick would be an exciting hire for the program, when he was asked about the Virginia Tech opening, he made it clear that he is focused on being the head coach at Norfolk State.
Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick on the new HC opening at Virginia Tech, where he played in college:
“My primary focus right now until the end of time is going to be what we do here at Norfolk State, so that’s all we can focus on right now.”
— Trevyn Gray (@treyhoops_) September 15, 2025
“My primary focus right now until the end of time is going to be what we do here at Norfolk State, so that’s all we can focus on right now,” Vick said.
This doesn’t necessarily rule out Vick, but it appears he won’t consider the Virginia Tech job until his season with Norfolk State concludes. With Pry gone and Vick unlikely to step in immediately, many of the Hokies’ 2026 commits could be at risk of being poached by other programs.
Syracuse, an ACC rival of Virginia Tech, is reportedly evaluating the Hokies’ 2026 commits. Orange head coach Fran Brown, known as an elite recruiter, could try to lure some of them away amid the coaching vacancy.
According to Inside the Loudhouse, Syracuse could be interested in Zaevion Cleveland, a three-star cornerback ranked among the top 800 players in the 2026 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings. He took an official visit to Syracuse on June 13 before ultimately committing to Virginia Tech.
Adrian Hamilton is another Virginia Tech commit the Orange might pursue following Pry’s firing. Hamilton is ranked as the No. 53 interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class and held an offer from Syracuse before committing to the Hokies in July.
Recruits often choose schools largely because of the coaching staff, and with Pry gone, Virginia Tech could see a wave of decommitments. With ACC rivals showing interest and no replacement named, the Hokies risk losing a significant portion of their 2026 class.
These are the consequences that come with firing a coach during the season, and Virginia Tech will have to navigate them in the wake of Pry’s departure.
