James Franklin shares support for new Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry
Virginia Tech has hired Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry to become the next head Hokies football coach. Pry has been at Penn State since the 2014 season, and his relationship with Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin goes way back.
Pry’s coaching career began in 1993 as the outside linebacker and defensive backs coach for East Stroudsburg. Brent Pry’s father, Jim, was the team’s offensive coordinator. On that East Stroudsburg team? James Franklin, who was a quarterback on the team. Franklin and Pry have a great relationship with each other, and the Penn State head coach is happy to see his friend and now former assistant getting his shot to be a head coach.
“I’m truly excited for Brent and his family,” Franklin said of Pry. “I know Blacksburg has held a special place in Brent’s heart since his time as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech. Coach Pry and I have a relationship dating back to my college playing days, and I know how hard he’s worked for this opportunity. I will forever be grateful for Brent’s friendship, support and loyalty.
“He’s a passionate leader who will inspire his team to play their best football; but his greatest strengths are his dedication, relatability and humility. It’s those characteristics combined with his deep understanding of X&O’s that will serve Virginia Tech and the entire Blacksburg community best. I will forever be a fan of Brent Pry and look forward to cheering him on as he takes this next step in his career.”
Franklin is excited to see Pry getting his first gig as a head coach
After Pry’s time at East Stroudsburg, he came to Blacksburg and was a graduate assistant coach from 1995 to 1997. The Hokies made a bowl game in each of those three seasons. Pry also has a stop at Louisiana, where he got his first chance to be a defensive coordinator in 2002. He has also served on staff at Memphis, Georgia Southern, and Vanderbilt.
Pry came to Penn State in 2014, serving as an assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Franklin promoted Pry to Penn State’s full-time defensive coordinator. He has served in that role ever since. In eight of Pry’s last 11 seasons, he has helped coach a top-25 total defense. Penn State’s defense has been one of the nation’s best since Pry took over. He does not have any experience as a head coach, but he is now getting an opportunity to do so in Blacksburg.