A new change has left fans on the edge of their seats. The Virginia Tech head abruptly dismissed important coaches. No one could have foreseen that this dramatic shake-up would lead to a painstaking three-month process to finalize the 2025 coaching staff.
The dismissed coaches are strength coach Dwight Galt IV and offensive line coach Ron Crook on December 12.
The Hokies moved quickly to replace Crook by securing his successor, Matt Moore, in under two weeks—a masterstroke that capitalized on West Virginia’s own coaching upheaval. This swift acquisition marked a significant upgrade for Pry and his program.
Virginia Tech held off on naming a new defensive coordinator until after the College Football Playoff, eventually bringing in Arizona Cardinals linebacker coach Sam Siefkes. Although opinions on Siefkes are still forming, his success at lower levels of college football and strong endorsements from current and former NFL head coaches have generated considerable optimism.
In an unexpected turn, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen left the Hokies to join Ohio State as their offensive line coach. In response, Virginia Tech stunned many by hiring Phillip Montgomery—formerly the head coach at Tulsa and offensive coordinator at Baylor and Auburn—as the new offensive coordinator, further bolstering Pry’s staff with another impressive upgrade.
The Hokies also promoted former Virginia Tech standout Jarrett Ferguson to head strength coach. Ferguson’s strong resume and early impactful changes since January underscore the renewed vigor in the program’s support staff.
As is often the case with new coordinators, both Siefkes and Montgomery have brought in their own trusted assistants. Siefkes has recruited a couple of coaches he’s worked with before, while Montgomery has added his son, Cannon Montgomery—a name well-regarded in coaching circles—to the staff.
In addition to these four major hires, several other coaching adjustments have been made. Existing staff members received new responsibilities: Shawn Quinn transitioned from coaching Stars/Nickels to serving as the outside linebackers coach, while Xavier Adibi moved from an analyst role to coach the inside linebackers. Brent Davis, who had previously assisted with the offensive line, has taken over as the tight ends coach, with Stu Holt remaining as the special teams coach and offensive assistant.
New faces joining the Hokies include Jens Danielsen as assistant offensive line coach, Cannon Montgomery as assistant running backs coach, Jireh Wilson in charge of edge rushers, and Bryan Whitehead as the new Nickels coach. Danielsen comes to Blacksburg from WVU, where he worked with Moore; Cannon Montgomery, a former college receiver with stints at Tulsa, Houston, Houston Christian, and Auburn, brings a wealth of experience; Wilson arrives from Kennesaw State with prior experience under Siefkes at Wofford; and Whitehead previously worked with Siefkes at Wisconsin-Platteville.
Together, these moves mark a comprehensive overhaul of the Hokies’ coaching setup, positioning Virginia Tech to build a formidable and competitive 2025 squad.
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