Family business: How a father-son duo is primed to electrify the Hokies offense this fall

BLACKSBURG – The phrase “it runs in the family” is commonly used when similar traits, qualities or attributes make themselves apparent between generations of the same family. For the Montgomery family, especially Philip and Cannon, football is that trait. 

Many family members have shared the Virginia Tech sideline throughout many decades of competition in Blacksburg. Since 1987, Tech has seen 35 sets of brothers, and 30 father/son pairs suit up and take the field in Chicago maroon and burnt orange. The Hokies will kick off their season in August with Philip serving as offensive coordinator and Cannon as assistant running backs coach. For this family—and for the Hokies—football is more than a game. It’s a legacy. And together, the duo hopes to write the next chapter in a story generations in the making. 
 
“We have a father-son relationship outside of the building, but as far as inside the building, we’re here for a job,” said Philip. 

“I get a chance to learn from, in my opinion, one of the best offensive coordinators in the nation on a daily basis, and that’s what really drove me to work with him again,” said the younger Montgomery. “The way he treats the people around him [and] the way he runs our offensive staff...that’s something I admire.” 

While both coaches have taken similar yet unique journeys to Blacksburg, the duo’s combined offensive expertise gives Hokie fans plenty to be excited about. Football may be the bond, but it’s offense—in all its forms—that truly defines the Montgomery connection. 

Philip Montgomery enters Blacksburg with more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience. In addition to an eight-year stint as Tulsa University’s head coach (2015-2022), the Eastland, Texas native has held offensive coordinator positions at Auburn, Baylor and Houston. What makes the hiring so promising is Montgomery’s coaching style – one that emphasizes uniqueness, in-game decision-making, and offensive explosiveness. 

“We want to use a lot of different variables within what we do offensively,” iterated Montgomery. “I’ve been at a lot of different stops, had a lot of different influences...it will be a collage of a lot of different things, but we want to be explosive.” 

Fans should keep a keen eye on how Montgomery utilizes returning starting quarterback Kyron Drones in the Hokie offense. As Baylor University’s co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2011, Montgomery played a massive role in Robert Griffin III’s illustrious Heisman-winning season. The Montgomery offense allowed RG3 to tally 3,998 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 644 rushing yards en route to becoming the university’s first-ever Heisman winner.  

This fall, look for Montgomery to wield an offense built on up-tempo play and creativity – a style he believes is well-suited for success. According to the coach, he can already tell his offensive squad is up for the challenge. 

“They’re very, very hungry,” stated Montgomery, talking about the drive his newly acquired offensive group plays with. “They’re working extremely hard. They have not balked at anything I have put in front of them...there’s a lot of good energy, and that’s been really, really pleasing to me.” 

In year one, Montgomery believes balance is key to sustained offensive success. Playing with purpose, control and knowing the standard of Tech football will position his unit for steady growth. If one word could describe his desired offensive identity, it’s excitement – rooted in a clear plan and aggressive mindset. 

Excitement about the on-field product is at the forefront of Montgomery’s mind in his first year. But on the sideline, his joy centers on something more personal — sharing the moment with his son, Cannon, who joins the staff as the Hokies’ assistant running backs coach. When asked about what coaching alongside his son means to him, Montgomery said it best: “It’s been one of the highlights of my life.” 

“He knows his stuff. He works extremely hard at it, and he is always wanting to learn more,” said Philip Montgomery. “We have a lot of fun together, trusting each other with our ideas and being able to talk through things...he brings a lot of great ideas that create opportunities for us to have discussions within the offense.” 

What makes this opportunity special for Philip Montgomery is the way in which Blacksburg is serving as another milestone in Cannon’s journey through collegiate football. From player to coach, Cannon has charted a path of his own—but he’s never walked it alone. Philip Montgomery has been there through it all, now watching proudly as his son makes an impact in the game they both love.  

“He takes control of the meeting room and understands what we’re trying to install. He’s powerful in that way,” said the offensive coordinator. 

For Cannon Montgomery, this opportunity means more than anything. As a wide receiver at Tulsa, he played 46 games under his father, becoming a four-year letterwinner while graduating with a degree in exercise and sports science. Shortly thereafter, he served as an offensive graduate assistant with the Golden Hurricane, working primarily with tight ends, wide receivers, and returners.  

Now, as the assistant running backs coach for the Hokies, Cannon has his sights set on what lies ahead. 

As a child, Cannon knew he either wanted to join the military or become a football coach like his father. “By the time I reached junior high,” Cannon reflected, “I knew that coaching was what I wanted to do.” 

“As I got older, you start seeing the mentorship side,” he said. “You start seeing how he [Philip Montgomery] is a father figure to people, how he’s a pastor to players, how [he’s] that role model.” 

Cannon Montgomery was always told that, especially as a player, you should be “playing above what your talent level was,” said the former wideout. That mindset, he said, is something he’s instilling in the running backs room – a group rich in talent. 

“There’s a lot of really talented guys,” asserted Cannon. “You have one to two guys on the field at all times, and we have eight guys that could legitimately play at any moment.” 

When asked about what has made their short time at Virginia Tech special thus far, both Philip and Cannon Montgomery had the same answer: Head Coach Brent Pry.  

“When Coach Pry had this opportunity available, it was something that I really went after,” said Philip Montgomery. “Once we got to the interview process, the excitement level grew even more.” 

Cannon agrees. “Getting to come back here and learn under Coach Pry, he’s really the first true defensive head coach I’ve been able to learn under. The energy and the competitiveness that he brings to practices is something I’ve definitely taken with me.” 

As the season barrels towards a kickoff in late August, it’s a new era not only for Hokie football but also for the Montgomery family. The offensive one-two punch is looking forward to getting things going later this fall.