“Honorable and humble” to become a Virginia Tech football coach

Blacksburg, Virginia-Brent Pry’s voice was inspiring as he elaborated on his career journey back to Blacksburg as a head football coach at Virginia Tech.

“I’m honored and humble,” he said at a press conference Thursday. “It’s very unrealistic for me.”

After spending 12 years on staff at James Franklin, the last eight at Pennsylvania State University, Pry said, “I wasn’t sure if I would take a step forward and do my own thing.”

“We took this place to do that and put what the coach (Frank Beamer) built (former defense coordinator Bud Foster) and many others in the right place,” Pry said.

Beamer, who gave Ply a chance to become a graduate assistant in 1995, and Foster, who had worked for Ply for three years in Defensive Line as the program’s status improved, attended Pry’s introductory press conference. After Justin Fuente was sent off on November 16th, JC Price, the interim coach of the Hawkeys, who heads Virginia Tech in the bowl game, also attended.

Ply hired Price as an Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coach. The new coach said he would take the time to pay close attention to staff development.

Ply, 51, has never been a head coach, but as a co-defense coordinator and defense coordinator at Pennsylvania State University, Nittany Lions’ aggressive defense ranks in the top half of the Big Ten each season. increase.

“It was fun to see him grow, grow, mature, … put himself in this position,” Foster said. “I’m excited about him.”

Pry will pay $ 4 million in the first two seasons, receive a $ 750,000 raise in seasons 3 and 4, and receive a $ 250,000 raise in the next two years. His budget is $ 5.5 million for 10 assistants and $ 2.25 million for support staff.

Athletic director Whit Babcock said the bar was set up from the beginning while Ply was the first coach to talk about the job and he talked to “3-5” other candidates. It’s really great to have someone who joins the search and is doing very well, a bar that everyone else can think of. And he certainly stood out. He was very well prepared. “

The two were talking through Zoom, but they hadn’t met in person before Ply flew to Blacksburg on Wednesday.

Babcock was initially primarily interested in hiring a coach with experience as a head coach, but Pry said he was playing big games at the SEC while he was with Franklin at Vanderbilt and Big Ten. rice field.

“He’s James Franklin’s right arm and he’s confident,” Babcock said.

It also helped Pry gain a history and reputation for Virginia Tech.

“I want someone to come to the job, so it certainly plays a role,” Babcock said.

Fuente was criticized for not truly accepting Virginia Tech’s football history, but was honored to wear Beamer’s retired 25th jersey and commended one player a week. ..

Mr. Pry said one of the difficulties for him was to take over the duty of defensive playcalls to his assistant, but he does it “after spring or after the first year.” right. He has been deeply involved in the details on that side of the ball since he started coaching.

He also plans to return the Hawkeys to a talented recruiter in Virginia. Pry said he learned a lot in that regard from Franklin, who emphasized the details.

“We built and built relationships with high school coaches, trainers, parents, uncles, and barbers who cut their hair,” Pry said. “It’s very important to me to be actively involved as a head coach.”

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“Honorable and humble” to become a Virginia Tech football coach

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