There will be a coaching reunion in Blacksburg.
According to multiple reports, Brent Pry has been hired as Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator, reuniting with new Hokies head coach James Franklin. Pry served under Franklin during his three seasons as head coach at Vanderbilt and eight of his seasons at Penn State. Together, they produced top-10 scoring defenses in 2017, 2019 and 2021, and the Nittany Lions led the country in sacks in 2018.
Their ties go back further, as Pry’s father was Franklin’s offensive coordinator when he played quarterback in college at East Stroudsburg. Pry was also an outside linebackers and defensive backs coach at the school during Franklin’s final two seasons.
Ironically, Pry left the Nittany Lions in 2022 to become the head coach at Virginia Tech, producing a 16-24 overall record before being fired midway through his fourth season. During his introductory press conference, Franklin said Pry played an instrumental role in convincing him to take the job.
“I probably would not be sitting here today without (Brent Pry)’s input and thoughts about this place,” Franklin said.
It’s an unprecedented move for a former head coach to be brought back as a coordinator, but the two share a longstanding relationship and Franklin was in need of new coordinators, creating a unique opportunity for Pry to return.
Penn State safeties coach Anthony Poindexter was viewed as a potential option for the opening, as Franklin considered him for the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator vacancy after Tom Allen left for Clemson a year ago. Poindexter was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and played and coached for the Cavaliers, giving him ties to the state. It’s unclear whether he’ll remain on staff under head coach Matt Campbell.
