Top 5 Candidates to Replace Frank Beamer as Virginia Tech Head Coach

College football has lost another icon. 

Following reports from Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 and ESPN's Mark Schlabach, among others, Virginia Tech confirmed head coach Frank Beamer will retire at the end of the 2015 season. 

“I have always said that ‘I want what is best for Virginia Tech,’” Beamer said a statement released by the school. “Because of my love and passion for this great university, this program and our tremendous fans, I have decided after 29 years that it’s time. Today, I informed Dr. Timothy Sands and Whit Babcock of my decision to retire at the conclusion of the 2015 season."

Hundreds, if not thousands, of words could be spent on what Beamer has meant to the Hokies program, which he took over in 1987. He leaves with a (currently) 235-120-2 (.661) winning record during 29 years at Virginia Tech. He led the Hokies program to a national championship game appearance in 1999 and won four ACC titles plus two more Big East titles outright. 

With Beamer moving on to the next phase of his life, Virginia Tech is tasked with finding a coach who can pick up where Beamer left off. Here are five candidates the Hokies should consider based on merit and potential fit. 

5. Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster

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This is both a no-brainer and a potentially complicated issue. Beamer may be synonymous with Virginia Tech football, but defensive coordinator Bud Foster is right there, too. Foster has been with Beamer since the very beginning in 1987, and he's never left for another job, be it as a coordinator or head coach. 

Foster has expressed interest in being a head coach one day, as he relayed to Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times in March. Is coaching Virginia Tech the job for which he's holding out? Perhaps, but the question is whether Virginia Tech's brass feels the same way.

Scott Roussel of Footballscoop.com tweeted "Those in the profession that I have spoken with do not expect" Foster to be promoted. This would seem like a natural fit and worthy of at least consideration, but it's also understandable if Virginia Tech is looking for a new start. 

4. Bowling Green Head Coach Dino Babers

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This one requires a little imagination because, on paper, Bowling Green head coach Dino Babers being courted by Virginia Tech seems like an odd fit. 

However, Babers has been in the coaching game for more than 30 years. While the furthest east he's ever been is Pitt (in 2003 as the Panthers running backs coach), that doesn't necessarily mean he can't try someplace new. A coach's success at a new stop has much to do with whom he hires at the assistant/support levels. Building a staff that knows the program, culture and/or recruiting area is crucial. 

Babers would bring an entirely new dimension to the Hokies program as a coach with a wide-open spread attack. However, the Art Briles coaching tree, of which Babers is a member, has churned out incredible results this year. Baylor, Bowling Green and Tulsa (coached by former Bears offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery) rank first, fourth and ninth in total offense, respectively. 

It would be a departure from the Beamer/Foster era but could make the Hokies a lot more fun to watch. 

3. Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez

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Arizona has taken a step back this year after winning the Pac-12 South and going to the Rose Bowl in 2014. The Wildcats have lost four of their last six games—three by double digits—and need to find a win somewhere in the final three-game stretch (at USC, vs. Utah and at Arizona State) to be bowl eligible. 

Still, head coach Rich Rodriguez has done great things at Arizona. His time at Michigan was a disaster, but the struggles in the Brady Hoke era absolved Rodriguez from taking the bulk of the blame. 

At the risk of ticking off both fan bases, Virginia Tech is culturally similar to Rodriguez's former job at West Virginia. For what it's worth, Virginia Tech's athletic director, Whit Babcock, was a former administrator at WVU while Rodriguez was the head coach of the Mountaineers. 

But would Virginia Tech be willing to pay Rodriguez? According to USA Today's coaches salary database, Beamer made just north of $2.5 million annually, while Rodriguez made slightly less than $2.9 million. For that matter, does Rodriguez want to get back to the Eastern Time Zone in an area he's more naturally familiar? He has a sweet gig at Arizona, where he's beloved and has the full support of the administration. 

2. Temple Head Coach Matt Rhule

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Temple head coach Matt Rhule isn't even 24 hours removed from the biggest college game he's ever coached, but his name is already being tossed around in connection to the Virginia Tech job by reporters like Thayer Evans of Sports Illustrated. 

And why not? Rhule has done an excellent job with Temple. The Owls have improved dramatically each year under Rhule, from 2-10 in 2013 to 7-1 and coming this close to beating Notre Dame in 2015. 

Though Rhule has a background in offense, Temple's defense has led the charge this season. The Owls are tied for No. 17 nationally in pass defense (5.9 yards per attempt), No. 19 in run defense (3.24 yards per carry) and ninth in scoring defense (15.8 points per game). Before the Notre Dame game in Week 9, Temple had not allowed an opening-drive touchdown all season (via Don Bell, CBS Philadelphia). 

For added "Beamer Ball" points, no team has blocked more punts and kicks this year than Temple. 

1. Memphis Head Coach Justin Fuente

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Does your favorite school have a job open currently (or may have one open in the not-too-distant future)? Congratulations, Memphis head coach Justin Fuente has been connected to that job. 

Fuente has deserved every coaching carousel rumor he's been a part of this year. The Tigers are 8-0 with a win over Ole Miss and could very well crash the College Football Playoff party. If Fuente is interested in moving up the coaching ladder, he'll have plenty of options. 

Would Blacksburg be the destination for him? Virginia Tech plays in a winnable division, the ACC Coastal, and in a solid recruiting ground. Fuente has cut his teeth on recruiting unheralded athletes, like Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch, and getting the absolute most out of them. At Virginia Tech, he'll have access to plenty of prospects in the Maryland/North Carolina/Virginia area. 

And, with his offensive background, he'd be a change of pace from Virginia Tech's current defensive identity. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.