Iconic Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer announces his retirement

BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer announced today that he will step down end of the season.

Under Beamer's leadership since 1987, Virginia Tech football has enjoyed unprecedented success with 22 consecutive bowl appearances, four ACC titles, and a trip to the 1999 national championship game.

According to the hokiesports.com, Beamer owns a 277-143-4 (.656) career head coaching record in 35 seasons, including a 235-120-2 (.661) mark during his 29 years at Virginia Tech. His 277 career wins are the most of any active FBS coach and are sixth all-time in the FBS. But perhaps two of his most notable accomplishments are the fact that 100 percent of his senior football student-athletes have graduated dating back to 2012 and that 25 different sets of brothers have played for him at Virginia Tech.

A 1969 graduate of Virginia Tech, Beamer was a three-year starting cornerback for the Hokies and was a member of the school's 1966 and 1968 Liberty Bowl squads. After taking over as the Hokies' head coach in 1987, he built the football program at his alma mater into a national power. He has guided the Hokies to 22 consecutive bowl games, the longest active streak recognized by the NCAA. A former defensive back for Virginia Tech, Beamer's No. 25 jersey was retired by the school in 2002. On Aug. 6, 2015 the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors officially renamed Spring Road in front of Lane Stadium as "Beamer Way.

Beamer was born in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, and grew up in Hillsville, Virginia. At Hillsville High, he earned 11 varsity letters as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball.

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement.

"Frank Beamer is an incredible coach and a good man, and I congratulate him on a legendary career. Coach Beamer deserves thanks for everything he has done for Virginia Tech, Hokie Nation, and Blacksburg."