Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock announced Friday the promotion of Danny White to Deputy Athletics Director, recognizing his longstanding leadership and broad impact across the department.
White, who previously served as an Executive Associate Athletics Director, will take on an expanded role with a primary emphasis on football operations and overall departmental performance. As part of this transition, White will shift out of his leadership of the Hokie Club to focus more directly on advancing key priorities within the football program, where he has served as its sport administrator oversight since 2018, and enhancing the student-athlete experience at the highest level.
A national search, conducted jointly by university advancement and the athletics department, will begin immediately for the Hokies’ Executive Associate AD for Advancement.
“As part of the overall Invest to Win initiative approved by our BOV on Sept. 30, 2025, and such a critical importance of fundraising at such a pivotal time, university leadership, Whit and I all agreed that we needed a leader of the Hokie Club whose sole focus is fundraising,” Virginia Tech Senior Vice President for Advancement Tom Wamsley said. “The collaboration and success between Athletics and University Advancement improved tremendously under Danny’s leadership, and we look to continue the momentum with our next hire.
“We will conduct a thorough search process and identify an outstanding candidate to lead us into this ever-evolving era of college athletics.”
Over his time at Virginia Tech, White has provided oversight of the Hokie Club, sport performance and student-athlete support units, including sports nutrition, academic support and sports psychology. He also served as the sport administrator for football and men’s and women’s swimming and diving, while working closely with student-athlete development and the university’s provost office to support career and academic success initiatives for all 22 varsity programs.
“Danny has been an integral part of Virginia Tech Athletics for nearly two decades, and this promotion reflects both his exceptional leadership and the trust we place in his vision moving forward,” said Babcock. “His impact on our student-athletes, particularly in the areas of performance, fundraising, academics and holistic development, has been profound. We are excited for Danny to take on this expanded role and continue to elevate our football program and department as a whole.”
Since joining the Virginia Tech Athletics staff in 2007, White has built a reputation as a collaborative and innovative leader. His tenure leading the Hokie Club has been marked by meaningful engagement with donors and sustained support for the department’s fundraising efforts, helping better position Virginia Tech in this evolving era of college athletics. Combining revenue from the Hokie Scholarship Fund, premium seating and sport-specific programmatic support, the Hokie Club raised the highest total ever recorded in a drive year in 2026.
“Danny has been an invaluable partner to our program from day one,” head football coach James Franklin said. “He has a rare ability to see the full picture—what it takes to support student-athletes at the highest level on the field, in the classroom, and in life—and then execute with precision.
“His leadership, professionalism, and team-first mindset make a direct and lasting impact on our program. Danny elevates everyone around him. I’m excited to continue working alongside him in this expanded role and have no doubt our program will be stronger because of him.”
White has been a key figure in shaping the holistic development model for Virginia Tech student-athletes, including establishing the department’s first Leadership Institute, which provides opportunities for leadership training and global learning experiences in locations such as the Dominican Republic, Switzerland and Rwanda. His earlier work also included leadership in student-athlete development areas such as Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), community outreach and career programming.
“Virginia Tech has been home to me and my family for nearly two decades, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this department in a new capacity,” White expressed. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished through the Hokie Club and deeply appreciative of the relationships built with our donors and supporters. As I transition into this new role, I’m energized to further support our football program and continue enhancing the overall student-athlete experience. I’m thankful to Whit and our leadership team for their trust, and I look forward to what’s ahead for Virginia Tech Athletics.”
White earned his Ph.D. in Planning, Governance and Globalization and his master’s degree in education from Virginia Tech, as well as a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of South Carolina. A former team captain for the Gamecocks men’s swimming program, he has remained active in the sport, including serving as chair of the ACC Swimming and Diving Committee.
White and his wife, Meredith, a 2006 Virginia Tech alumna, reside in Blacksburg with their five children: Addison, William, Amelia, Abigail and Owen.