4. Whit Babcock
Quick bio: Babcock has been in collegiate athletics for 22 years with stops at Missouri, West Virginia, Auburn and James Madison before taking over as the AD at Cincinnati in 2011, where he worked with Butch Jones, and then heading to Virginia Tech as AD in 2014.
Pros: He’s a respected name around college athletics who has the obvious connection of having worked with Jones for a couple years in what, from all accounts, appeared to be a solid relationship. He’s off to a good start at Virginia Tech, handling the transition away from Frank Beamer to Justin Fuente smoothly. UT officials have likely had some interaction with him as they’ve organized the Battle at Bristol.
Cons: Babcock is a Virginia native and has a great gig with the Hokies. After just taking over there in 2014 and making an impressive football hire, he might not be looking to go elsewhere.
