In a week filled with emotion and pride for Virginia Tech fans, former football head coach Frank Beamer has been named to the 2025 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame class, an unprecedented honor for a man whose legendary coaching career helped shape not just Hokies football, but collegiate athletics as a whole. The announcement comes just days after Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team punched its ticket to the NCAA Final Four — a feat the university hasn’t achieved in over five decades.
While traditionally known for its football roots, the university finds itself in the national spotlight across multiple sports. But it was Beamer’s induction — typically reserved for basketball greats — that captured hearts and headlines alike.
“Frank Beamer transcended the game of football,” said Naismith Selection Committee chair Cynthia Wilkes. “His leadership, discipline, and community-first approach built a blueprint of excellence that extended beyond the gridiron. He’s a rare figure whose cultural impact reaches across sports, and that makes him a fitting, if unconventional, inductee.”
Beamer, 78, retired in 2015 after a 29-year tenure with Virginia Tech. Under his leadership, the Hokies posted 238 wins, 23 consecutive bowl appearances, and a berth in the 1999 BCS National Championship Game. His signature “Beamer Ball” — emphasizing strong special teams and defensive scoring — revolutionized the way coaches approached the game.
“This is surreal,” said Beamer in a press conference Monday. “To be recognized by the Naismith Hall of Fame, especially in a week like this, it just means everything. I’ve always believed in Hokie Nation — now we’re showing the world what we’re made of.”
The historic week for Virginia Tech was capped by the men’s basketball team defeating Kentucky 74–71 in a gritty Elite Eight matchup. Led by sophomore guard Darius Vaughn, the Hokies are set to face Arizona in the national semifinal — their first Final Four appearance since 1967.
University President Dr. Tim Sands called it “the most defining week in Hokie sports history.”
“From Coach Beamer’s immortal recognition to our return to Final Four prominence, this is a celebration of legacy, resilience, and the power of belief,” said Sands.
As the maroon and orange faithful prepare for the weekend’s Final Four showdown, they do so with the echo of Beamer’s legacy in the background — one that now officially spans beyond the football field and into the annals of sports history.
