Nov 02, 2015 11:53 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

At the end of the season, Virginia Tech will need to hire a new head football coach for the first time since 1987.

Following a 26-10 win over Boston College and mired in a 4-5 season with the Virginia Tech Hokies, Frank Beamer, 69, announced Sunday he will retire at the end of the season.

"I was going to wait until the end of the season to make this announcement, but I've always believed in being open and honest with my players and coaches," Beamer said in a statement released on the team's official website. "I know Hokie Nation will continue to give our players and our coaches their full support in these last three games, and hopefully through a bowl game. I will be forever grateful to everyone who made these past three decades the best years of my life. It's an emotional day for me and my family. I am so honored and humbled to have served as your head coach."

According to ESPN, Beamer leads all active Football Bowl Subdivision coaches with 234 wins. In his tenure at Virginia Tech, also his alma mater, Beamer led the Hokies to seven conference titles - four in the ACC and three in the Big East - as well as six BCS bowl game appearances.

Under Beamer, Virginia Tech also enjoyed 22 consecutive winning seasons and bowl game appearances. He has also been named Coach of the Year five times - three by the Big East and two by the ACC.

"Coach Beamer contacted me earlier today with his decision to retire following this season," Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said in the statement. "Coach will always remain one of the most beloved figures in college football history. He's a future Hall-of-Famer, an educator and a role model. His contributions to Virginia Tech and the game of football - both on and off of the field - are unquestionable and beyond measure."

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