Virginia Tech named Fuente its head coach on November 29, 2015, replacing the retiring
Frank Beamer. In his first season in Blacksburg, Fuente led the Hokies to a 9-3 regular season record and a trip to the ACC Championship, representing the Coastal division.
[25] Fuente won the 2016
ACC Coach of the Year following the regular season. The Hokies defeated the
Arkansas Razorbacks 35-24 in the 2016
Belk Bowl, overturning a 24-0 deficit at halftime and winning three consecutive bowl games for the first time in the program's history. Virginia Tech finished the season ranked #16 in both the AP and Coaches Poll. On April 3, 2017, Fuente and Virginia Tech agreed to a contract extension through 2023, which based on his 2018 and 2019 season has proven to be a costly mistake for the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia Tech Athletics; Some have even likened it to rival University of Virginia's Mike London Mistake.