Report: Virginia Tech expected to hire Penn State DC Brent Pry as its next head coach
Virginia Tech has found its next head coach, per a report.
That’s according to Yahoo!’s Pete Thamel, who indicated an announcement could come soon.
Sources: Virginia Tech’s search has focused in on Penn State DC Brent Pry. No deal is done yet, but the hire is expected to happen soon.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 30, 2021
Pry has been Penn State’s defensive coordinator since 2016 and he has worked for James Franklin since 2011. He’s led several elite defenses for the Nittany Lions, including this season’s:
Penn State's scoring defense with Brent Pry as the DC (per CFBStats):
2021: 16.8 ppg (7th nationally)
2020: 27.7 ppg (55th nationally)
2019: 16 ppg (8th nationally)
2018: 20.5 ppg (23rd nationally)
2017: 16.5 ppg (7th nationally)
2016: 25.4 ppg (47th nationally)— Dustin Schutte (@SchutteCFB) November 30, 2021
This hire would get Virginia Tech back to a more defensive identity that it had for so many years under Frank Beamer and Bud Foster. Justin Fuente came to Blacksburg as more of an offensive coach.
Pry also has ties to the region and could help with recruiting the state of Virginia better than Fuente did. Depending on his staff, the Hokies could be well-positioned for recruiting high-level talent in the near future. Pry was a grad assistant with the Hokies from 1995-97.
This hire leaves just one remaining vacancy in the ACC: Duke. It’s possible other jobs will open, but the coaching carousel — in the ACC specifically — is slowing for now.
