Seven months ago, when offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery joined Virginia Tech’s staff, few imagined he would be leading the Hokies as interim head coach at all, yet alone in September. But after an 0-3 start and the dismissal of head coach Brent Pry, Montgomery is the one tasked with stabilizing a shaken locker room and steering the program forward.
Montgomery’s appointment as the interim head coach is one that comes with experience. He spent eight seasons as Tulsa’s head coach (2015–22), compiling a 43–53 record and once facing the Hokies in Frank Beamer’s final game — a 55–52 Virginia Tech win in the 2015 Independence Bowl. That background, Montgomery said, gives him confidence stepping into the role on short notice.
"I've been in this role, I understand what it takes," Montgomery said during his Tuesday press conference. "I understand how you're going to get pulled in a lot of different directions, what that does to your time, what that does to the energy that you’ve got to put in certain areas. I think I’m well-suited for that part of it. I’ve got a great staff that’s going to be supporting me in that sense. And those guys, they're locked in with me. This is not going to be a one a show, this is going to be a team effort."
