There were definitely some questions raised when Tyler Bowen chose to leave Virginia Tech to join Ryan Day as the offensive line coach at Ohio State. Why would he take a positional job instead of a coordinator position? Let’s not forget that Bowen’s departure following a tough time in Blacksburg did not disappoint Hokies fans—at least not the majority of them. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported last week that head coach Brent Pry was allegedly pursuing Christian Taylor, the defensive quality coach for the Buffalo Bills. Following that revelation, there was nothing until ESPN’s Pete Thamel revealed on Monday morning that Virginia Tech was interested in hiring former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery as their next offensive coordinator. The school shortly verified this.
Here are three opinions about Montgomery joining the staff now that the hiring process is official. Montgomery contributes his head coaching background. Montgomery’s time as head coach at Tulsa is a significant factor in the hiring process, even though it may not mean much to many. Given Pry’s struggles over his first three years in Blacksburg, where he has a 16–21 overall record, that cannot be disregarded. He could be someone else Pry can rely on at any point, if anything. Pry has surrounded himself with some seasoned head and assistant coaches as he embarks on a massive fourth year at Virginia Tech. His seat will be heated if things don’t work out. He surrounded himself with Bud Foster, Matt Moore, and Montgomery’s experience.
Montgomery has coached some good college quarterbacks and developed them for the next level, including Robert Griffin at Baylor. He has a QB at Virginia Tech in Drones who has a strong arm and can beat teams with his legs. There will be no shortage of plays that Montgomery could draw up for Drones and Pop Watson.
Developing wide receivers and a running game is also going to be big, but this is the type of hire that can Drones take the step to the next level in 2025. Is he going to turn him into another Robert Griffin? Unlikely, but this is likely the best possible hire for Drones for next season.
From Bowen to here, there’s only one route, and that’s up, correct? In addition to having a lot more experience than Bowen when he started working with Pry, Montgomery already knew Drones because he gave him a scholarship while he was still in high school at Tulsa before Drones transferred to Baylor. Montgomery’s background as an offensive coordinator and head coach, including time spent as a Power 5 offensive coordinator, makes him an excellent hire for a variety of reasons. All of that is significant for a coach entering this position during a crucial season for the Blacksburg staff, which is led by Pry.
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