Justin Fuente to Virginia Tech: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

As expected, Virginia Tech announced Sunday that Memphis head coach Justin Fuente will take over for Hokies legend Frank Beamer.

"We are thrilled to welcome Justin, Jenny and their three daughters into our Virginia Tech family," athletic director Whit Babcock said in a statement: "We identified Coach Fuente as a top candidate early in our process. As our conversations progressed, we then met in person and it became obvious he is the right person to lead our football program. He possesses wisdom beyond his years, as well as a refreshing sense of humility and a calm confidence."

The Richmond Times-Dispatch's staff provided insight into Fuente's contract on Monday morning:

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Fuente's contract at Virginia Tech will pay him $3.2 million his first year, then escalate over the life of the six [year] deal, according to a release the school provided Monday morning.

By 2021, Fuente would earn $3.65 million. Tech will also pay Fuente an additional $500,000 for him to pay the buyout of his current Memphis contract. 

The deal makes Fuente the third-highest-paid coach in the ACC among public schools and 27th nationally.

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Fuente, 39, spent the last four seasons at Memphis. He compiled a 26-23 record, including a 19-6 mark over the last two seasons. The Tigers concluded a 9-3 regular season with a 63-0 win over SMU on Saturday. They were No. 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings after an 8-0 start but then went on a three-game losing streak.

Nevertheless, Fuente's turnaround at Memphis made him one of the nation's hottest coaching candidates. The Tigers, who won the Miami Beach Bowl last year, had not made a bowl appearance since 2008 before Fuente's arrival, and his offensive innovation made him an attractive candidate for teams in need of an infusion on that side of the ball.

A former offensive coordinator at TCU, Fuente employs a wide-open spread system that put Memphis' among the nation's most prolific offenses. The Tigers rank seventh nationally in points per game and 12th in yards per game this season. Quarterback Paxton Lynch has emerged as an unheralded star, throwing for 3,670 yards and 28 touchdowns against three interceptions.

"Justin is a very impressive individual who also happens to be one of the brightest offensive minds in college football," Babcock said. "He elevated Memphis to unprecedented heights. His recruiting philosophy is progressive and comprehensive. Coach Fuente has displayed tremendous talent in evaluating players and developing young men as they strive to reach their full potential."

Dan Wolken of USA Today has confidence in Fuente:

Fuente will take over for Beamer, who announced his retirement in early November after 29 seasons with the Hokies.

In 1987, Beamer took over a program with only six bowl appearances to its name and built it into a respected national power. Virginia Tech became bowl-eligible for the 23rd straight season with a 23-20 win over Virginia on Saturday and has been ranked in the final AP poll 16 times under Beamer.

Beamer led the Hokies to seven conference championships (four in the ACC and three in the Big East) and a national title game appearance in 1999. He also developed a reputation as one of the best people in college football and is a beloved figure in Blacksburg.

Suffice it to say, Fuente has big shoes to fill. Virginia Tech has failed to win more than eight games in any of the last four seasons, so bringing the Hokies back to national prominence may be a difficult task. But Fuente proved at Memphis that he can build a great team if given time.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.