Notre Dame Football: Top 5 coaches Irish will face in 2018
By Chase Eyrich
No. 4 Virginia Tech – Justin Fuente
Head coaching record
45-31
Accolades
2016 AP ACC Coach of the Year
2016 ACC Coach of the year
The offensive-minded coach has made four stops in his career. Between Illinois State and TCU, Fuente has spent time with quarterbacks, running backs and as an offensive coordinator.
Continually progressing throughout his first decade, Fuente made his first head coaching appearance with Memphis in 2012. His first stint didn’t look so well on paper. A 4-8 record wasn’t quite what he was looking for, but Memphis saw the potential in him.
The following season ended in a 3-9 disappointing record, but the Tigers still knew they were up to something. Memphis extended Fuente’s contract to 2017. That’s when he earned his money.
The 2014 season resulted in a huge turn around of the Memphis program. Going 10-3, the Tigers tied for first in the American Athletic Conference with a Miami Beach Bowl victory over BYU.
A 9-3 season the following year was enough to catch the attention of the likes of Virginia Tech. His success followed him in his first season. Leading the Hokies to a 10-4 season, he quickly made his name known in the ACC. A trip to the ACC Championship and a bowl victory earned Fuente ACC Coach of the Year.
After earning a contract extension through 2023, Fuente took the Hokies to another winning season going 9-4.
Fuente is a coach who knows how to win and embraces a challenge. He is following in the footsteps of Frank Beamer and picked up the nation’s longest active bowl streak. That streak has continued thanks to his success in his first two seasons at Virginia Tech.