College Football Coaching Changes: Ranking the best hires

Oct 31, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Justin Fuente before the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

2. Virginia Tech Hokies – Justin Fuente replaces Frank Beamer

Justin Fuente was arguably the biggest name on the coaching market who would be leaving his current job. There was just no chance Fuente was staying in Memphis with so many premier jobs open, and he got one of them with Frank Beamer retiring after 29 years at his alma mater, finishing with 22 straight winning seasons and 22 straight bowl appearances.

It’s tough to be the guy replacing a legend, but Fuente gets a soft landing here with defensive coordinator Bud Foster sticking around and will stay on Fuente’s staff. This is a fertile recruiting ground, a program with a history of winning and an athletic director in Whit Babcock who is dedicated to winning.

Fuente is going to be a massive success and continue to do what he did at Memphis where he built that moribund program into a 10-win team.

Next: Bronco Mendenhall