Frank Beamer’s Throat Surgery Puts Him on the Bench, But Not For Long

Frank Beamer was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

September 7, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on September 4, 2026

Frank Beamer, a special assistant to the Virginia Tech athletic director, underwent throat surgery in 2014, which temporarily impacted his coaching availability.

The Hokies’ team physician, Dr. Gunnar Brolinson, stated that his procedure went as planned, without complications.

Beamer earned 11 varsity letters and played football at Virginia Tech.

After graduating, he became an assistant football coach at Radford High School in 1969 and spent seven seasons at The Citadel under the guidance of Bobby Ross.

Murray State University hired him as a defensive coordinator in 1979 and promoted him to head coach after two seasons in 1981.

On December 22, 1986, Virginia Tech hired him as its head coach and signed a four-year contract worth $80,000 per year. He led his team to win the Independence Bowl in 1993 and the ACC Championship in 2004.

Beamer announced his retirement from coaching at the end of the 2015 season, and Memphis’ Justin Fuente replaced him. Later, he served as a special assistant focusing on athletic development and advancement.

Frank Beamer Had a Successful Throat Surgery

Virginia Tech confirmed that head coach Frank Beamer underwent successful throat surgery in 2014. The procedure was planned for after the end of the regular season.

Team physician Dr. Gunnar Brolinson stated the surgery went as planned, without complications, and that Beamer needed rest before returning to his routine.

Virginia Tech vs South Carolina 🏈
“Frank Beamer made Blacksburg, Virginia, a destination.”

— Chris Rodgers 🦚 🇺🇸 (@rodgeau)

The details of the procedure were not released, but Dr. Brolinson confirmed Beamer had already been cleared to continue game planning and studying film.

He rested comfortably at home in Blacksburg and was expected to make a full recovery in time to coach the Hokies for their 22nd consecutive bowl game.

Beamer, who had 271 career wins, held his surgery until the end of the regular season.

He led the Hokies to a 6-6 record in the 2014 season, making them bowl-eligible for the 22nd year in a row.

After the surgery, everyone waited for him to return to the practice field, expecting him to be on the sidelines with the Hokies at their bowl game.

We waited until the end of the regular season to surgically address an issue with Coach Beamer’s throat. The procedure went as planned, without complications, and he simply needs some rest before he returns to his normal routine. He’s been cleared to continue his game planning and film study and will return to the practice field as soon as possible. I fully expect Coach Beamer to coach in his 22nd consecutive bowl game.

Frank Beamer Joined the College Football Playoff Committee

Legendary Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer was appointed to the College Football Playoff Committee on January 17, 2017.

This appointment came just over a year after he retired from coaching.

Frank Beamer always knew Shane would be a head coach and he’s taking it all in watching his son live out his dream 🥹

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork)

Beamer joined the 13-member panel, which was responsible for selecting the top four college football teams to compete for the national championship.

The committee’s task is to convene weekly during the final six weeks of the regular season to rank the top 25 teams in the country. Their most important task is to determine which four teams will earn a spot in the playoffs.

Beamer was appointed for three years and became the 14th person to be named to the committee since it was formed in 2013.

At the time of his selection, he was also serving as a special assistant to Virginia Tech’s athletic director.

In Case You Didn’t Know

  • Franklin Mitchell Beamer, the son of Raymond Beamer and Herma Beamer, was born on October 18, 1946, in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
  • He is a direct descendant of the notorious Allen clan of Carroll County, Virginia.
  • He married Cheryl Oakley on April 1, 1972, and they have two children, Shane and Casey, as well as six grandchildren.
  • His net worth is estimated to be $10 million, and .

  • Check other Articles on

Ashish Maharjan, author at Players Bio, has been covering news with a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling. A writer with a passion for capturing the essence of athletic competition.

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