Seth Greenberg OUT at VT

[VTHokie]

Announcement to happen at 4:00 but a reputable newspaper reporter is reporting that it will be that Seth Greenberg will be fired, effective immediately. Apparently the final straw was the mass exodus of assistants fleeing elsewhere over the last couple years (this year, we lost guys to Clemson and UAB).

It's about time IMO. Word is (this is less confirmed) that former UNC-W, Richmond, and DePaul HC Jerry Wainwright interviewed for one of the assistant jobs and the idea was tossed out about just making him HC and he may be announced as the next guy quickly... if not at 4:00.

[VTHokie]

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/breaking/307847.html

And here's the start of the verification.

[VTHokie]

And the Shaka Smart to VT rumors have begun in full force. Not going to happen... I Know. Just funny to see.

I just don't see the logic in firing a guy this late. Word is that some crap had been stirring behind the scenes for a while that made it an impossible situation and something HAD to be done. We'll be seeing Greenberg on ESPN next year.... perhaps in Fraschilla's spot.

As to who VT will get this late, who the hell knows. We're not at the point yet where realistic names are even being discussed. Just a bunch of Shaka Smart/Gregg Marshall BS. I'm rooting for ODU's Blaine Taylor... which would likely allow us to keep one of our assistants (John Richardson, who was previously an ODU assistant who had incidentally just signed on to go back to ODU from VT because he couldn't stand working for Greenburg). Of course, it's also possible that Richardson is going to be ODU's next guy.

[Astro]

Meh.. mediocre basketball school and a mediocre coach fired. Wainwright is nothing to write home about either.

Gregg Marshall won't be going to VT. I doubt Smart will but I also don't believe Smart to be capable of turning a program into a national power in a good conference.

[VTHokie]

What's known is this. Wainwright is not a candidate for the HC position at Virginia Tech. VT appears to have also gotten its token denial from Shaka Smart.

It appears family is going to be big in this search. Greenberg was VERY difficult to work for and to play for by many accounts. There's a reason that the role of "Assistant Basketball Coach at Virginia Tech" was such a revolving door.

Ironically, Steve Prohm is the name I'm hearing most connected with the opening. He's big into family atmosphere, great to work for, and of course, the head coach at Murray State. Hmmm, where has VT hiring brass (granted, not the current AD of course) heard that one before?

[VTHokie]

Well that was quick, but the rumors are spreading like wildfire and appear to be true.... Bobby Lutz (former HC at Charlotte) is the new HC of Virginia Tech. He actually has, ya know, made the dance. Was a HC at Charlotte for over a decade and did a good job. I'm satisfied (though now dancing in the streets) with this hire. Lutz was most recently the top assistant at resurgent NC State. Word is, his staff is going to be really good too, and is going to include the 2nd NC State assistant as his top assistant (this guy was best man at Lutz's wedding) and was HUGE in NC State's 4th ranked recruiting class of this past season.

And the rumors are fueled by a tweet from Rob Murphy (HC of Eastern Michigan who was also a candidate) congratulating Lutz... a tweet that has since been taken down.

[VTHokie]

And NOW it's official.

Virginia Tech has hired former assistant James Johnson. I'm lukewarm on this hiring. He was our best assistant for the 5 years he was in Blacksburg. He has tournament success as he was on staff at George Mason when they made their run to the Final Four.

My problem is that he hasn't been an assistant at a big name school outside of Virginia Tech (unless you count his last 2 weeks as an assistant at Clemson). He wasn't at VT for THAT long (5 years). He is very young (I think he's only like 36 or 37).

He was considered a big prospect for a head job in the next year or two. But not a Big 6 school... but more like a CAA school.