By Matt Jones, sports editor

After their worst season in 20 years, the Virginia Tech football program will have at one new face on the coaching staff this fall.

Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports first reported the news that head coach Frank Beamer will hire former Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler to the same position in Blacksburg.

Tech’s search for new offensive coaches has been a slow and steady process since their 13-10 win over Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl on December 28. Stanford’s Pep Hamilton and former Kansas offensive coordinator Chuck Long were rumored throughout the process.

Loeffler, 38, will replace Bryan Stinespring as offensive coordinator for the Hokies. Stinespring’s future is still up in the air, but it is likely he will be reassigned to another role on the coaching staff.

Quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain’s future role is unknown. He has coached the quarterbacks at Tech since 2006 while also calling the plays on game day in 2011 and 2012.

Loeffler, a known quarterback guru, has coached NFL draft picks Tom Brady, Tim Tebow, Brian Griese, Chad Henne, Drew Henson and John Navarre during his career. He was hired at Auburn last season, his second offensive coordinator job. After Auburn struggled in 2012, Loeffler was part of the Gene Chizik coaching staff relieved of their duties at the end of the season.

Before Auburn, Loeffler had a successful one-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Temple, helping the Owls to a 9-4 record.

Auburn finished a disappointing 3-9 (0-8 in the SEC) in 2012, the program’s worst season in 60 years. Loeffler, who replaced Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator, transitioned the Tigers from a spread offense to a more traditional pro-style attack. Loeffler coached sophomore quarterback Kiehl Frazier in his one season at Auburn and used a 60/30 run-pass ratio.

Loeffler has ties to the NFL, where he coached the Detroit Lions quarterbacks in 2008. He is also a close personal friend of Brady’s dating back to their time at Michigan.

Beamer has yet to announce any changes, but it appears as though Purdue will announce wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman to their staff in the coming days. Purdue’s athletic department website already lists an email address for Sherman.

The staff decisions will likely play a major role in Logan Thomas’ decision whether or not to declare for the NFL Draft. The deadline for underclassmen is Tuesday. Fellow juniors Antone Exum and James Gayle have already stated they are returning for their senior season.

The Collegiate Times will continue to cover the coaching staff developments as they occur. Follow sports editors @MattJonesCT and @ZMarinerCT for updates.

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