In a historic day for Virginia Tech athletics, legendary former football head coach Frank Beamer has been officially named to the 2025 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Class, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in college sports history. The announcement came just hours after Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team clinched a spot in the Final Four for the first time since 2019, setting off celebrations across Blacksburg and Hokie Nation.
Though the Naismith Hall of Fame is traditionally centered on basketball, Beamer’s induction is part of a new “Pioneers of Collegiate Sport” category honoring individuals whose broader contributions transcended their primary discipline. Beamer, who led Virginia Tech football from 1987 to 2015, was recognized not just for his coaching achievements, including a 280–143–4 record and a national championship appearance in 1999, but for the lasting culture he built at Virginia Tech — one of unity, grit, and excellence that continues to inspire all Hokie athletic programs.
“Frank Beamer’s influence goes beyond the gridiron,” said Naismith Hall of Fame Chair Jerry Colangelo. “His leadership transformed a university and set a standard for what college athletics can represent.”
Current Virginia Tech basketball head coach Derrick Jones, whose team has shocked the nation with its Cinderella run to the 2025 Final Four, paid tribute to Beamer during the post-game press conference following the Hokies’ 76-71 win over Kansas. “Coach Beamer built the soul of this university’s athletic spirit. We’re just carrying on what he started,” Jones said. “This Final Four appearance belongs to him too.”
Beamer, 78, humbly accepted the honor in an emotional statement. “I never coached basketball, but I’ve always believed in the power of college sports to shape lives,” he said. “To be recognized by the Naismith Hall of Fame, especially on a day like this, with our Hokies headed back to the Final Four — it’s overwhelming.”
Virginia Tech students and alumni erupted in celebration on campus and online, with hashtags like #HokieLegend and #BeamerBallForever trending nationwide.
As the Hokies prepare for their Final Four showdown, the spirit of Beamer — a man who made excellence synonymous with Virginia Tech — will loom large. This is more than a banner year. It’s a moment of destiny for a university built on the shoulders of legends.
