Virginia Tech’s new athletic department leadership keeps taking shape, and Brian White is moving fast.
After arriving as the Hokies’ athletic director last month, White immediately started filling key spots with people he knows well. Ryan Gottlieb came aboard as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Strategy Officer, and Brad Bell was brought in as Executive Associate Athletics Director of Advancement and Executive Director.
Now White has added another familiar name to the mix. Virginia Tech announced this week that Mary Giardina will serve as the school’s new Deputy Athletics Director and Chief of Staff.
Giardina arrives from West Virginia, where she was executive senior associate athletics director for student-athlete experience, governance and compliance. She also has a past connection with White and Gottlieb from Florida Atlantic, and she previously worked at Duke as executive director of compliance.
The hires signal a clear shift in approach for Virginia Tech. White, Gottlieb and Bell all have reputations as strong fundraisers, and the Hokies’ recent moves reflect a department intent on being proactive rather than simply reacting to the rest of the college sports world.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to join Brian and the Virginia Tech family,” Giardina said, via hokiesports.com. “Virginia Tech has a proud tradition, an incredibly passionate fan base and a clear vision for where this department is headed.
Having worked alongside Brian, I know the standard of excellence he expects and the culture he builds. I’m excited to help support our coaches and staff, serve our student-athletes and contribute to a championship-caliber experience in every aspect of Hokie Athletics.”
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The UCF game stands out as the more eye-catching of the two, since Central Florida is coming off a 2026 NCAA Tournament appearance and the meeting will be at a neutral site in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mercer, a Southern Conference team, is also on the schedule, giving Virginia Tech another home date to work with as it continues filling in the details of a nonconference slate that still has room for debate. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Adds Justin Terry To Keep Rebuilding Its Offensive Line
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His path has already taken a few turns, and that matters for a Virginia Tech front still trying to find the right mix. Terry is expected to be in the mix quickly, giving the Hokies another experienced option as they continue sorting out who can hold up on the edge and who can handle the weekly grind of ACC play. [Read more 🡒]