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Hokies Hiring An Old Rival? -
ACC Foe's Players Say Coach Going To Tech
Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, VA)
June 6, 2006
Author: MIKE BARBER, Daily News-Record
Estimated printed pages: 3
Boston College's three-game sweep over Virginia Tech's baseball team must have impressed the Hokies, who apparently have decided to hire BC coach Peter Hughes to take over their program.
Two BC players and a father of a third said Monday that Hughes has left the Eagles to accept the job in Blacksburg.

"Yesterday morning, I got the call," rising senior left fielder Jared McGuire said by phone from his Harwich, Mass., home. "He told me he was going down the list, calling players, letting us know he thought it was best for his family."

Neither Hughes nor Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver returned calls seeking comment Monday.

Hughes, a 1990 Davidson (N.C.) graduate, coached the Eagles for the past eight seasons. This year, Boston College went 28-25-1, including 9-21 in the ACC, fifth in the league's six-team Atlantic Division.

"He called me yesterday, middle of the day yesterday," rising senior center fielder Peter Frates said. "He said he made it official the night before. It was pretty surprising. There was no education that this might be coming. He said the school had been recruiting him for about a month, but I was totally surprised."

Chuck Hartman, who compiled a 961-888-8 record in 28 seasons as the Hokies' coach, retired this spring. Hartman also coached at High Point University for 19 years before taking over at Tech in 1979.

Hartman said Monday night that he had no involvement in the process beyond initially recommend-ing his associate head coach, Jay Phillips, as his successor.

Phillips, who has been a Tech assistant for 14 seasons, interviewed for the position, Hartman said.

Hartman said he knows Hughes and thinks he'll be a good fit for the Hokies.

"He's a good coach and a good person," Hartman said.

The Hokies finished this season 20-33 overall and 4-25 in the ACC, the conference's worst record.

On March 24-26, the Eagles beat Tech 8-7, 6-4 and 9-7 in 10 innings.

Dominic Preziosi, whose son David was a captain on this year's BC team, also confirmed that Hughes was headed to Virginia Tech.

"[They] got a good man," Dominic Preziosi, also a BC graduate, said. "It's a loss for us. [Those] guys are lucky."

McGuire also had high praise for his departing mentor.

"I've been lucky enough to play for him for three years," said McGuire, who said he was "shocked" when Hughes called to tell him the news. "He's a great coach, he knows the game. We're going to miss him at BC."

They won't have to miss him for too long. The Eagles host conference rival Tech for a three-game series next season.

"It's going to be weird," the 21-year-old, two-year starter said. "We're playing them at BC next year. To look over in the visitors' dugout and see him there is going to be different."

Frates said he knows to be ready for when the Hokies visit Chestnut Hill. Under Hughes, the Eagles stole more bases (113) and attempted more steals (143) than any other ACC team. They were tied for third in the league with 51 sacrifice bunts.

"I guess we can kind of expect what kind of baseball Virginia Tech is going to be playing now," Frates said. "It's just going to be weird seeing him yelling at the other kids instead of us."

John Frates, Peter's father and a 1980 BC grad, was complimentary in discussing Hughes' coaching of his son, noting Hughes' ability to develop players. Frates also appreciated that Hughes called his players to let them know of the decision - one that won't be announced until next week, he said.

"It just shows what a stand-up guy he is," Frates said. "The kids have a lot of respect for him."