Why Virginia Tech is reportedly bringing back Brett Pry originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Virginia Tech is set to bring back Brent Pry, hiring the former Hokies head coach as its next defensive coordinator, according to On3.
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The move reunites Pry with James Franklin, who was introduced as Virginia Tech’s new head coach earlier this fall.
Pry previously served as Franklin’s defensive coordinator at Penn State, helping engineer multiple top-10 defenses and earning a 2021 Broyles Award nomination. The Nittany Lions ranked fourth nationally in red zone defense that year, seventh in scoring defense and eighth in defensive pass efficiency. Pry also has coordinated highly ranked units at Vanderbilt, Georgia Southern and Western Carolina.
Although Virginia Tech dismissed Pry in September after an 0-3 start and a 16-24 record across nearly four seasons, he remained influential during the Hokies’ coaching search. Pry advocated for the school to hire Franklin after he was dismissed.
Franklin acknowledged their long relationship during his introductory press conference, noting his ties to Pry’s family and their decade-plus working together at Vanderbilt and Penn State.
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“I’ve got a ton of respect for Brent and his family,” Franklin said. “I know this place is better today because of Brent and the commitment he made.”
Franklin, fired by Penn State in October, has quickly rebuilt Virginia Tech’s recruiting efforts, assembling a top-25 class for 2026.
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