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Sep 5, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney talks with tight end Lacota Dippre (15) during the first quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. USA TODAY Sports

Updated Head Coach Candidates for Virginia Tech (11/11)

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 9:02 AM ET

A great deal has happened since Brent Pry was fired almost two months ago. Several names have emerged as favorites to be the next Virginia Tech head coach. Here are five to watch:

James Franklin – Former Penn State Head Coach

The skinny: The saga between Franklin and Virginia Tech continues. Almost two weeks ago I wrote that the Franklin/Virginia Tech marriage was close to becoming official. But due to several reasons, that hasn’t happened. The main reason is that Franklin and his agent Jimmy Sexton are in a very favorable position. While it likely pains Virginia Tech fans, there is no rush for him to choose, aside from getting an advantageous head start to recruiting and assembling a coaching staff. However, those advantages haven’t been enough for him to pull the trigger. As of today, I still think it happens, but the longer this drags on, the chances diminish. And as they diminish, the likelihood that he is waiting for the Florida State job to open, grows.

Bob Chesney – James Madison (Head Coach)

The skinny: No name has gotten hotter nationally over the last month than Chesney. A Pennsylvania native, Chesney has spent most of his playing and coaching career in the New England/Mid-Atlantic region. This includes head coaching jobs at Salve Regina, Assumption, Holy Cross and now James Madison. Overall, he has compiled a 128-51 and has won seven conference championships.

Chesney is going to be a head coach at the P4 level, so the question is when and where, not if. Virginia Tech makes a great deal of sense, especially with him currently succeeding in the state of Virginia at James Madison. The Dukes’ success this season could be a hurdle though, as a trip to the playoffs would greatly prolong the Hokies’ ability to have their new head coach on campus full-time.

Dan Mullen – UNLV (Head Coach)

The skinny: Mullen’s return to the sidelines was one of the more interesting storylines coming into the 2025 season. And it has gone well, with the Rebels sitting at 7-2. Mullen proved himself as a successful head coach long before this though, with a combined 103-61 record at Mississippi State and Florida.

As of right now, Mullen is saying everything you’d expect a first-year coach to say, he is happy at UNLV. However, the Rebels were passed over by the new PAC-12 and will remain in a weaker Mountain West Conference in 2026 and beyond. Would Mullen appreciate the challenge of coaching in the ACC or is he content with playing in a conference that loses Boise State and San Diego State and introduces UTEP and Northern Illinois?

Charles Huff – Southern Miss (Head Coach)

The skinny: Huff is an interesting new name that has been thrown into the equation. A Maryland native, Huff played his college football at Hampton before starting his coaching career in 2006. Since then, he has gradually worked his way through the ranks. This included stops at Penn State and then Mississippi State and Alabama as an associate head coach. Most recently he was the head coach at Marshall and now Southern Miss. After leading Marshall to a 10-3 season in 2024, he currently has Southern Miss at 7-2 and 5-0 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Huff has succeeded as an assistant and now as a head coach. As a running backs coach, he helped develop players like Saquon Barkley and Najee Harris, while working under Nick Saban and ironically James Franklin. While he isn’t considered a favorite for the job, Virginia Tech fans shouldn’t be disappointed if they end up with Huff.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Charles Huff reacts after a penalty during the first quarter against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss. on Sept. 27, 2025.

Alex Golesh – USF (Head Coach)

The skinny: Golesh quickly helped turn around a USF program that was stuck in the mud for several years before his arrival. And this was sped up this season with the Bulls at 7-2 and with wins over Florida (3-6), Boise State (6-3) and North Texas (8-1). Golesh got his big break in 2020 when he was hired by Josh Heupel at UCF. He followed Heupel to Tennessee before getting the USF job prior to the 2023 season.

Golesh is known as an offensive mind and top-level recruiter. But he is also being considered for several other jobs. Unless a school goes above and beyond financially, Golesh will have several options once the 2025 season is complete. Would Virginia Tech be willing to go above and beyond financially?

Others to monitor: Shane Beamer – South Carolina (Head Coach), Jon Gruden – Former NFL Head Coach, Ryan Silverfield – Memphis (Head Coach), Justin Wilcox – Cal (Head Coach)

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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