Virginia Tech Unveils Ambitious Coaching Staff and Transfer Portal Haul Under New Head Coach James Franklin

Franklin touts experienced coordinators, high-profile transfers, and facility upgrades as he looks to revive the Hokies' football program.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:07pm

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In his first public comments since being hired as Virginia Tech's new head football coach, James Franklin touted his coaching staff, recruiting approach, and emphasis on upgrading the program's facilities. Franklin announced 10 assistant coaches and 20 support staff, including several former colleagues from his time at Penn State. The Hokies also added 27 transfers, many with multiple years of eligibility remaining, headlined by defensive end Javion Hilson and wide receiver Que'Sean Brown. Franklin said he is committed to both high school recruiting and leveraging the transfer portal to build a deep, competitive roster.

Why it matters

Virginia Tech is hoping Franklin's high-profile hiring and aggressive approach can help revive a football program that has struggled in recent years. The Hokies are investing heavily in their coaching staff and facilities, signaling a renewed commitment to competing at the highest level of college football. Franklin's ability to quickly assemble an experienced staff and land a highly-touted transfer class will be crucial as he looks to turn the Hokies around.

The details

Franklin's 13-minute opening monologue highlighted several key hires, including defensive coordinator Brent Pry, offensive coordinator Ty Howle, and special teams coordinator Doug Shearer - all of whom have previous experience working with Franklin. The Hokies also added several veteran assistant coaches with head coaching experience, such as senior analysts Warren Ruggiero and Danny Rocco. On the player side, Virginia Tech landed 27 transfers, including 12 from Franklin's former program at Penn State. Headliners include defensive end Javion Hilson, a former top-100 recruit, and wide receiver Que'Sean Brown, Duke's second-leading receiver in 2025.

  • Franklin was hired as Virginia Tech's new head coach in November 2025.
  • The Hokies announced their new coaching staff and 27-player transfer class on February 4, 2026.

The players

James Franklin

The new head football coach at Virginia Tech, hired in November 2025 after previous head coaching stints at Vanderbilt and Penn State.

Brent Pry

The defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, previously worked with Franklin at Penn State.

Ty Howle

The offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, also previously worked with Franklin at Penn State.

Javion Hilson

A defensive end transfer from Missouri, was a consensus top-100 prospect coming out of high school.

Que'Sean Brown

A wide receiver transfer from Duke, was the Blue Devils' second-leading receiver in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“We got a lot of work done in a very short period of time.”

— James Franklin, Head Coach

“I want to be very, very clear, because I have not done this my entire career, I'm not in the business of hiring friends. I've got enough friends. Maybe three or four of them. That's enough. I hire coaches that I believe are going to put Virginia Tech in the best position to be successful.”

— James Franklin, Head Coach

“His pride in Virginia Tech, it pours out of him. And I think that is important, and we're going to lean into that.”

— James Franklin, Head Coach

“We're doing our best to stay up with James Franklin and his aspirations, and he's been pushing us hard on every point. But the good news is, we were already aligned. So it hasn't been difficult. It's just a long list of things that we're trying to tick off as fast as we can. And our donors are stepping up, so I feel good about that. I think we're in a great spot.”

— Tim Sands, Virginia Tech President

What’s next

The Hokies will look to continue building momentum on the recruiting trail as they prepare for the 2026 season under Franklin's leadership.

The takeaway

James Franklin's aggressive approach to rebuilding Virginia Tech's football program through high-profile coaching hires, an impressive transfer class, and facility upgrades signals a renewed commitment to competing at the highest level. If Franklin can quickly establish a winning culture, the Hokies could be poised for a rapid turnaround in the coming years.