Penn State’s Defensive Coordinator Named Virginia Tech’s Head Coach
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State football’s now former defensive coordinator, Brent Pry, has struck a deal with Virginia Tech to be its head football coach for next season.
In a statement Pry released yesterday, via Twitter, he said, “the opportunity to coach at linebacker U was a dream come true,” and that he, “could not be more grateful for the trust and support of coach James Franklin.” Pry has worked alongside Franklin since they coached together at Vanderbilt and then arrived at Penn State back in 2014.
Junior student Derek Bast feels bittersweet over the news. “He's been such a great advisor for James Franklin since he got to Penn State, so it's a little upsetting there,” Bast said. “But it's also really cool to see a coach that we have known for so long at Penn State get a huge opportunity like being the head coach at Virginia Tech, which is a great program.”
Since Pry’s arrival, Penn State has ranked in the top-five in defense in the Big Ten every season since. Now, Penn State students are left wondering what will happen next season.
Luke Collum, a junior Penn State student is hoping to see some more improvements from the defense. “I want to see our defense be more consistent against the run, more consistent on third down and just be better against the top teams in the nation,” Collum said.
While the news of Pry’s departure is recent, Penn State already has some prospects lined up to fill his position. Marcus Freeman from Notre Dame, Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State and Derek Mason from Auburn University and a few more notable coaches on the list of potential people to fill in as the new defensive coordinator.
Brent Pry will be taking over for Justin Fuente as head coach after he was relieved last month. In six seasons, he went 43 and 31 for the Hokies.
Throughout Pry’s 30-year coaching career, he has helped coach teams into 15 bowl game appearances and finished in the top-25 in the FBS in total defense eight times.
Pry is not unfamiliar with Blacksburg. He is returning to Virginia Tech after working as a defensive graduate assistant from 1995-1997, and helped the team head into three straight bowl games. He will be formally introduced to Hokie Nation at 9 a.m. Thursday in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Gabrielle Teiner is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email gmt5216@psu.edu.
