Virginia Tech Hires Brent Pry As Next Head Football Coach

By: David Cunningham | Managing Editor
Brent Pry is the next head football coach at Virginia Tech. (Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports)

On Tuesday, Virginia Tech and Director of Athletics Whit Babcock announced the hiring of Brent Pry as the school’s head football coach. Click here to read the official school announcement.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Pry, Amy, and their family to Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg community,” Babcock said in Tech’s release. “I’m confident that Hokies everywhere will come together to embrace and support them as we enter this new chapter in the history of Virginia Tech football.

The former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State on James Franklin’s staff, Pry was in Happy Valley for eight seasons. He has more than 30 years of coaching experience under his belt, a career that started in Blacksburg as a defensive graduate assistant on Bud Foster’s staff from 1995-97. He was part of the group that defeated Texas in the 1995 Sugar Bowl, a team that included interim head coach J.C. Price.

In its release, Virginia Tech announced Pry will retain Price as an associate head coach/defensive line coach. After mutually parting ways with Justin Fuente two weeks ago, Price was named the interim head coach, and he led the Hokies to a 29-24 win over Virginia to retain the Commonwealth Cup last Saturday.

Pry, an Altoona, Pa. native, graduated from Lexington High School in Lexington, Va. and has ties to the Commonwealth. He’s recruited the likes of Brandon Smith (Mineral, Va.), Devyn Ford (Stafford, Va.) and Yetur Gross-Matos (Fredericksburg, Va.) away from schools in Virginia since joining Franklin’s staff in 2014. He was Franklin’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Vanderbilt in 2011-13 and followed him to Happy Valley.

A University of Buffalo graduate (1993), eight of Pry’s defenses in the last 11 seasons have finished in the top 25. Under his watch, the Nittany Lions led the Big Ten in total defense (328.8) in 2020, and in 2019, the defense led the nation in fewest yards per carry (2.6) and was fifth in rushing yards allowed per game (95.0). Ten players from that 2019 defense earned All-Big Ten honors, too, led by linebacker Micah Parsons and Gross-Matos at defensive end.

Pry was a 2017 Broyles Award nominee for the top assistant coach in the country, and he’s consistently put together good defenses with great talent.

“On behalf of Amy and our family, we are extremely grateful to President Sands and Whit for extending us this opportunity at Virginia Tech,” Pry said in the release. “Working for Coach Beamer and Coach Foster as a graduate assistant in the 1990s, I was privileged to have been a part of this program as the Hokies established themselves as a national power, consistently proving they could beat anyone in the nation.

“Even after I departed Blacksburg, I always continued to appreciate Virginia Tech, its great players, its championship teams, and its wonderful traditions from afar. The resources, facilities, university backing of Athletics, and phenomenal fan support that Virginia Tech enjoys made this a very desirable situation. But just as importantly, the opportunity to raise our children in a community like Blacksburg also has great appeal. We can’t wait to meet the team, the support staff, and Hokie Nation. We will be prepared to hit the ground running in order to attract the type of student-athletes to Virginia Tech who can help us achieve sustained success. Go Hokies!”

Two weeks ago on Nov. 16, Whit Babcock held a press conference to announce the Hokies were mutually parting ways with Fuente and listed characteristics for the next head coach.

From the outside, Pry checks all of those boxes. He’s a culture hire, like men’s basketball coach Mike Young was for Babcock back in 2019.

The one attribute Pry does not possess is head coaching experience. Babcock said he “preferred” someone with that level of expertise, but wouldn’t rule any assistant coaches out. He also mentioned having someone that fits the community is very important, and Pry has lived in the Commonwealth, like Young (Radford native).

Pry is the son of Jim Pry, who was VMI’s offensive coordinator from 1984-88. The Keydets set 13 school passing records and one NCAA record under the elder Pry in 1984, per a 2018 article in the Roanoke Times from Doug Doughty.

Pry was coached by former Tech offensive coordinator Brian Stinespring at Lexington High School, who helped him get the GA job in Blacksburg on Foster’s staff. Pry has many ties to the Commonwealth and has recruited at a high level everywhere he’s been.

Despite not being the flashiest hire – Tech was rumored with now-Florida head coach Billy Napier (Louisiana) and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell – Pry checks the boxes, knows Virginia, has connections and can cultivate a solid culture. He has relationships with Price and Hokies cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith, too, who was once a GA under Pry at Penn State, so there is potential that he retains one or two of the current coaches on staff.

The biggest question that remains: Who will Pry hire as assistants? Keep an eye on his next moves as the Virginia Tech head coach.

Penn State bio: Link 

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  1. I like the hire- similar to MY. Outstanding success at defensive coordinator at a very successful power 5 school. Has experience coaching in the Big 10 and SEC while at Vanderbilt. Has a tremendous record as a recruiter in the same area where VT recruits. His 30 years of coaching experience has allowed him to mature and understand what it takes to succeed as a coach. And what I really like is that he WANTS to be at Va Tech. Somehow, I got the impression that JF was never completely sold on Blacksburg. I was one of the holdouts on keeping JF- that if he could learn from his mistakes, he could turn things around, but he didn’t, so none of that matters now.

  2. I’m going to believe this is the best hire until proven otherwise. I have no inside info or special perspective. I just have pride in and love for Virginia Tech. Go Hokies! May Pry be worthy.

    1. Unsolicited Advice: Give David Cutcliffe a call to see if he wants to coach your QB room. He may also be a great help in learning the ropes as a program CEO.

      1. Good idea. Cutcliffe is a proven commodity when it comes to QB’s. Even though Hetah Shuler was a bust, he’s otherwise coaches both Manning boys and Daneil Jones plus, he knows the ACC landscape.

  4. I worry about his lack of head coaching experience. Going from coordinator to controlling the day-to-day operations of a P5 program is certainly jumping in the deep end. But I also think this certainly has the potential to be a sneaky good hire like Mike Young has been for hoops. Guess time will tell on that, but hoping for the best. Go Hokies!

  7. Makes me happy! Whit checked a box that wasn’t published….a Virginia Tech relationship. I like what little I know about Fry and what I’ve read today. I like that JC is still onboard and promoted. This might really work well.

  8. I admit as well…not flashy….at all. But after Clawson & Napier were off the board then seeing Lincoln & Brian create potential openings for Matt Campbell and Luke Fickell I struggled to give the nod to anyone else in terms of a proven head coach. Huff, Caldwell arent proven enough yet. It quickly became a race between the best available coordinator or assistant head Coach. The biggest three questions I have from here are:

    1. How far off the path are we? How long before we are legitimately relevant again?
    2. Does Pry work out quickly like MY, Buzz, Kenny Brooks, TRobi, JSzefc etc
    3. If NOT, Does Whit get a 3rd swing?

    If Pry can avoid the major Fuente mis-steps with his players, his fanbase, his coaching hires, and with his interaction with the media, boosters, and the overall Hokie Community (ie highschool coaches etc) then Pry should at the very least move our program forward not backwards.

  9. Probably at least plan C on the hiring list, but could’ve done a lot worse. Personally would’ve preferred a minority hire with similar experience like Freeman, Huff, or Gattis, but hopefully this will work out. I’ll fully support either way, Go Hokies!

      1. Uh … how to put this so it’s still G-rated. A minority hire is NOT a woke hire.
        Check yourself pal.

        2. Hmmmm don’t like the word “woke”? But we get the message. A coach should not be hired for the color of his skin. Nor should the coach candidates be considered because of the color of his skin. It was mentioned in a post earlier that an unpublished item was a connection to the state and Va Tech.

          One thing I like about promoting an assistant coach is he does not have an assistant staff to come with him so he can decide on which of the team’s assistant coaches to keep and which to let go. The other thing to consider is keeping key players away from the transfer portal as well as this year’s recruits.

          1. One thing I like about promoting an assistant coach is he does not have an assistant staff to come with him so he can decide on which of the team’s assistant coaches to keep and which to let go. >>>>

            Full card B-I-N-G-O!

            Throw in the rave reviews he’s getting from the Virginia HS coaches There will be plenty of open doors for him and his staff in Virginia and the rest of the mid-Atlantic.

            BTW, lots of folks in Lexington are proud of their hometown boy. Their first comments – this kid is smart.

      3. Sad world you live in when mentioning hiring an equally qualified African American candidate is called a “woke hire” but based on your username, I’m not surprised by that response.

        1. No two people are ever “equally qualified”…ever…never…

          Race as the tie breaker is a dangerously flawed concept.

          Let’s just trust that Whit got this right.

          1. 1,000% the best person should get the job. Period. Whit thought Pry was more qualified, fine by me, that’s his job. I was just giving my opinion and I have a hard time believing that Pry is more qualified then Huff or Freeman. Wasn’t trying to stir the pot…

            1. But you did didn’t you … again I think for Virginia Tech Pry is the better fit because of his Virginia and Virginia Tech connection.

    4. I couldn’t care less what the coach’s minority status is as long as they represent themselves and the university well….and win.

    1. Anyone that thought we had enough resources to get a current and successful P5 coach, or a top tier non-P5 coach was smoking dope. The only question in my mind was what Coord were we getting

  13. Finished dead last in the TSL poll. Ironic. Not even as high up as Fuente did in the prior poll. I am guessing people won’t have a lot of patience. Of course, we don’t know if anyone else was offered and turned it down although Clawson and Napier became unavailable. Hard to imagine a HC from a smaller program would have turned it down.

    1. I am guessing people won’t have a lot of patience.>>>>

      This guy has a winning personality. And – is a straight shooter. He’s a calm Kirby Smart.

  16. Another low-flying Babcock hire. There’s a lot to like here. He’s still young (<50). What stands out to me is that while he doesn't check the experienced HC box, he knows what Big Time football is all about and esp. coming from PSU where defense is King and he understands the VT culture even if he has not experience in the ACC. Now, can he hold on to our previous commits? Hopefully, he will also retain JHam and Teerlinck.etc. Aisde from Vice, clean house on the Offensive side.

    3. You might be a Hokie but your presentation – as well as your user name – smacks of hoo-like arrogance. You don’t like the hire, got it – but most of us really do like it. Hopefully Coach Pry will serve a heaping helping of crow for you.

  18. He built some of those great Ds at PSU with the help of some of our state’s best. Now he needs to bring them here and return our D to its former glory. Hopefully, we don’t lose any of our 2022 recruits. I am excited for our future. Go Hokies!! Play that Sandman now!!

  19. Great hire!! I always thought a HC with Power 5 experience meant nothing given the huge number of unsuccessful ones-especially this year! I love the Hokie and VA connection and keeping JC!! I’m with JCP, this is family, this is home! I wanted someone who believed that! Can’t wait to see the rest of the staff!

  20. Great under the radar hire. Already on Wiki. Already getting high marks from Virginia HS coaches. Interestingly that he went to Lexington (VA) HS. I’ve got several neighbors who knew him when he was growing up here. Lots of nice comments. The best – he’s smart and works hard.

    I’m all in on him – as he can clean house on the O side and keep the best of the D side. Lots more options than if he were a HC already.

  21. Many were wondering if it was wise to hire a HC who did not have at least a track record of building a successful program over several years – WB eliminated that issue by hiring someone with no HC experience at all – you can’t make this stuff up.

    1. We don’t need someone to “build” the program. Frank did that over a 20 yr period. We just need someone to fill up the tank and go steamroll the competition again.

    2. Google him. Listen to some of his interviews. He’s Freeman with a ton of experience in Virginia. No flash. Has a nice Southern ring in his voice.

  23. Makes sense on a lot of levels. Price stays, and hopefully Ryan Smith and the best of the rest. Now, who will handle the offense?

      4. Really, you had to go negative. I appreciate what perspective the TSL staff add and I have always been amazed by the amount of knowledge, ie Chris Coleman has retained over the years to share on podcasts.

  28. Not a flashy hire at all. But sometimes, the “under the radar” hires turn out to be the best. Hopefully Coach Pry can put together a great staff. GO HOKIES!!!

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