Hokie Shockwave: Virginia Tech Hurriedly Fires Head Coach After Liberty’s Crushing First-Inning Blitz
In a dramatic and decisive move, Virginia Tech has parted ways with head baseball coach John Szefc less than 24 hours after the Hokies were overwhelmed by Liberty University in a 7-4 loss, punctuated by a disastrous six-run first inning. The decision comes as the team finds itself in a downward spiral, having lost seven of its last eight games.
Wednesday’s loss wasn’t just another tally in the defeat column. It symbolized a broader collapse in performance, preparation, and momentum during a critical stretch of the season. With postseason hopes fading fast, Virginia Tech’s athletic department acted swiftly, signaling a need for immediate change.
“After careful evaluation of the direction of our baseball program, we have decided to make a leadership change,” said Athletics Director Whit Babcock in a press release Thursday morning. “We thank Coach Szefc for his service and contributions to Hokie baseball over the past seven years.”
The Flames came out swinging — literally — in Wednesday’s matchup, torching the Hokies’ pitching with six runs in the bottom of the first. A three-run homer by Liberty catcher Tucker Moore put the exclamation point on the inning, stunning the Virginia Tech dugout and igniting a home crowd in Lynchburg.
That early deficit proved insurmountable, even as the Hokies chipped away late with a pair of two-run homers from Jared Davis and Ben Watson. But by then, the damage had been done — and the writing was on the wall for Szefc, who admitted postgame, “You can’t give up six in the first inning and expect to win. That’s colossal.”
Szefc was hired in 2017 and guided the Hokies to their best season in program history in 2022, winning the ACC Coastal Division and hosting a Super Regional. But that success has faded in recent years, as inconsistency and underperformance have plagued the program.
Virginia Tech’s midweek struggles have become particularly glaring. The loss to Liberty marked their second in eight days to the non-conference in-state opponent. Liberty, meanwhile, under first-year head coach Bradley LeCroy, looked focused, energized, and unfazed by their Power Five foe.
“I tell our guys we’ve got to play with confidence no matter who’s across the field,” LeCroy said after the win. “That first inning gave us a big spark, and we rode that momentum.”
While the Flames now find themselves just one game shy of Conference USA tournament eligibility, the Hokies are left reeling. Szefc’s firing sends a message that mediocrity, especially during critical stretches, won’t be tolerated.
Pitching coach Kurt Elbin is expected to serve as interim head coach as Virginia Tech prepares for its upcoming non-conference series against Mercer. The school also announced it would begin a national search for Szefc’s permanent replacement immediately.
Reaction among fans and alumni has been mixed. Some praised Szefc for rebuilding the program’s relevance, while others saw the move as overdue. Regardless, there’s little doubt that Liberty’s early blitz on Wednesday accelerated the Hokies’ decision.
As for Liberty, the team hopes the win will serve as a springboard into the postseason. For Virginia Tech, the flames of Wednesday’s opening inning may continue to burn long after the scoreboard went dark.