Brent Pry bringing longtime Wisconsin assistant to Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is adding a respected Big Ten assistant to their coaching staff. On Monday, the Hokies revealed Joe Rudolph is joining Brent Pry’s staff in Blacksburg.

“Virginia Tech Football head coach Brent Pry announced Monday that Joe Rudolph has joined his coaching staff as associate head coach/run game coordinator/offensive line coach,” wrote the program in a press release. “Rudolph has spent the past seven seasons serving as associate head coach/offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at the University of Wisconsin under head coach Paul Chryst.

“A three-year letterman on the offensive line at Wisconsin, Rudolph was part of head coach Barry Alvarez’s squads that helped revitalize the program by winning the 1993 Big Ten championship and the 1994 Rose Bowl.”

In his time with Wisconsin, Rudolph helped the Badgers become one of the most staunch teams in the trenches in the nation. As the coach of the unit, the Badgers sent players like tackle Ryan Ramcyzk and center Tyler Biadasz to the next level.

Additionally, the Badgers were one of the best rushing teams in the nation. Rudolphs offensive line helped clear the way for the talented running backs to take over game. Over his time, the program sent multiple running backs to the NFL — including Indianapolis Colts star Jonathon Taylor.

Throughout his career, Rudolph has been surrounded by winning. Across multiple stops at Wisconsin, Ohio State, Nebraska and Pittsburgh, the esteemed coach always found success.

Brent Pry is bringing over a coach with a wealth of experience, and success in his past. Joe Rudolph is a huge addition to the Virginia Tech staff.

More on Brent Pry, Virginia Tech coaching staff

Furthermore, Rudolph isn’t the only Big Ten assistant joining Brent Pry in his new venture. On Monday, it was revealed that Pry is pulling Michael Hazel from Penn State to be Pry’s chief of staff in Blacksburg, according to a report from The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Hazel, who had served as Penn State’s senior director of football operations under James Franklin for the past three seasons, is making the move to Virginia Tech with Pry, who was the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2016-21.

Prior to working at Penn State, Hazel had a long run at Vanderbilt with Franklin from 2004-14 – including three years in the role of director of football operations. Hazel played linebacker at Elon and graduated in 2001.

Hazel has been recognized for his work in football operations, as he was named FootballScoop’s Operations Director of the Year in 2020 after being a finalist for the award in both 2015 and 2016.