Hokie ClubResponsibilities: John Ballein was promoted to Executive Associate AD/Chief Operating Officer in the fall 2023. He will continue to serve as the primary driver of Internal Operations for the department, overseeing the Strength and Conditioning, Equipment Services, Facilities and Event Management, and the Business Office for all of Virginia Tech Athletics. He serves as the primary sport administrator for the Baseball and Volleyball programs, and the secondary sport administrator for the Men's and Women's Basketball programs.
Joined VT Athletics Staff: 1987
At Virginia Tech: Ballein began his career as a graduate assistant coach in 1987 on Frank Beamer’s first Virginia Tech staff; departmental recruiting coordinator (1989-1996); assistant director of athletics for football operations (1996-2000); Associate AD for football operations 2000-15.
Prior to Virginia Tech: Ballein served as a teacher and football, basketball, and track coach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Va., in 1983-84, and then served as teacher and coached football, basketball, and baseball, at Western Branch High in Chesapeake, Va., in 1985-86.
Education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1983 (B.S. in health and physical education); Old Dominion University, 1987 (Masters of Education); Virginia Tech, 2006 (Doctorate of Education).
Of Note: Ballein’s accomplishments as a multifaceted athlete at Bentworth High School (football, baseball and wrestling) led to his induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Washington-Greene Chapter) in 2013; The Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Ballein excelled at football and went on to play linebacker at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Stephanie, are members of Virginia Tech's Pylon and Ut Prosim Society.
Personal: A native of Bentleyville, Pa., Ballein is married to the former Stephanie Green, a Hokie basketball player in her undergraduate days and current Chief of Staff for the Virginia Tech men's basketball program. They have two daughters, Jordan Gray, an elementary school teacher in Houston, Texas, and Jalyn Ann, the Director of On-Campus Recruiting at Virginia Tech.