Fuente, Virginia Tech AD call reports of hiring 'premature'

Published Nov. 28, 2015 4:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

Memphis coach Justin Fuente and the Virginia Tech athletic director said Saturday that reports Fuente will replace Frank Beamer as Hokies coach are ''premature.''

Fuente and Whit Babcock declined to confirm several reports that cited unidentified sources and said Fuente would be hired as coach and longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster would remain on staff at Virginia Tech.

''Those are premature,'' Fuente said after Memphis (9-3) beat SMU 63-0 on Saturday. ''There is a time for that and it's not right now.''

Babcock said nothing had been finalized with a new coach. The rumors ''are not official at this time,'' he said.

Beamer is retiring after this season, his 29th leading the Hokies. He will coach Virginia Tech's bowl game after the Hokies (6-6) beat Virginia 23-20.