Billy Hite Associate Head Coach &
Running Backs Coach
photo Billy Hite, who has helped develop 24 running backs who have gone on to sign with NFL teams, is entering his 31st season on the Tech coaching staff and his eighth year as the Hokies' associate head coach.

While at Tech, Hite has helped produce nine of Virginia Tech's top 11 career rushing leaders. He has been on the sidelines for more Virginia Tech football games than any other coach.

Last season, four tailbacks saw action, combining for 1,377 yards and 14 rushing scores.

Hite came to Blacksburg as a member of Bill Dooley's football staff in 1978. He served as a recruiter and head jayvee coach his first two years, then took over as the offensive backfield coach in charge of tailbacks and fullbacks in 1980. He has been coaching Tech's running backs ever since.

Hite remained at Tech when Frank Beamer took over in 1987 and was elevated to the position of assistant head coach by Beamer the following year. He was promoted to the new position of associate head coach in December 2000.

“ I tell all my players to be the best back on the field - to be complete football players. I want them to take the attitude that one man cannot bring them down. I want them to be physical and nasty when blocking; to run good pass routes and catch the football; and to be good actors and carry out their fakes. Once a back touches the ball, they make the decision where to run.

I will never second guess a running back with the ball in his arms. If each back protects the football, makes the big play and plays with intensity, we will win. ”

- Billy Hite

In 1989, Hite filled in as the acting head coach when Beamer was sidelined following coronary angioplasty surgery and had to miss a home game versus Tulane. Hite didn't let the Tech faithful down as he led the Hokies to an emotional 30-13 victory.

Hite's first tailback in 1980, Cyrus Lawrence, went on to establish Tech season and career marks for rushing yards. During the mid-1980s, Hite was credited with the development of Tech's famed "Stallions" backfield that featured Maurice Williams and Eddie Hunter.

In 2000, tailback Lee Suggs shattered school and BIG EAST Conference scoring records on the way to leading the nation in touchdowns and scoring. Suggs, who also led the conference in rushing, was selected the Co-BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year.

During the 2001 season, with Suggs sidelined by an injury, true freshman tailback Kevin Jones came on to lead the team in rushing and set a Tech record for rushing yards by a freshman. Jones was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.

In 2002, Suggs and Jones combined to become the most productive Tech twosome ever in terms of single-season rushing yardage, combining for over 2,000 yards. During the 2003 season, Jones broke Lawrence's single-season rushing mark and set new Tech records for rushing in a game and 100-yard games in a season. He earned consensus All-America honors before opting to leave early for the NFL Draft. He was a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions. Jones' single-game rushing mark was broken in 2004 when another one of Hite's pupils, Mike Imoh, ran for 243 yards at North Carolina.

A native of Hyattsville, Md., Hite was a former star tailback at the University of North Carolina. He received a bachelor's degree in education in 1974. Hite began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UNC in '74. He was a part-time assistant for the Tar Heels from 1975-77. Hite received one of his highest honors when he was inducted into the DeMatha High School Hall of Fame in 1992.

Hite is married to the former Anne Heen of Memphis, Tenn. They have two daughters, Kirsten Marie, 23, and Bryn Elizabeth Louise, 19, and a son, Griffin William, 15.