Pry leaving Penn St. for Virginia Tech top job
Defensive coordinator Brent Pry, who has been an assistant for James Franklin since 2011, is leaving Penn State to become the head coach at Virginia Tech, it was announced Tuesday.
The 51-year-old native Altoona native had been the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator since 2016 and the linebackers coach since Franklin’s hiring in 2014.
Pry replaces Justin Fuente, who was fired two weeks ago after the Hokies went 5-5 this season and 43-31 in six years as head coach.
“As this next chapter approaches, I could not be more grateful for the trust and support of Coach James Franklin,” Pry said in a statement. “It has been an honor and a privilege to have been a part of his staff and vision for the last 11 years. The opportunity to coach at Linebacker U. was a dream come true, and it would not have become a reality without the encouragement of so many people throughout my career. Penn State will always be a special place for me and my family, and we cherish the young men who allowed us to be part of their lives.”
Penn State ranked fourth nationally this season in red zone defense, seventh in scoring defense and eighth in pass defense efficiency. Pry’s best season might have been 2017 when the Lions ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense, 14th in rush defense and 17th in total defense.
Pry launched his coaching career as a student assistant at Buffalo in 1992 after his playing career was cut short by injury. He was a defensive coach at East Stroudsburg in 199394, when Franklin was the team’s quarterback. Pry served as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech from 1995-97 before stops at Western Carolina, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis and Georgia Southern.
“I’m truly excited for Brent and his family,” Franklin said in a statement. “I know Blacksburg has held a special place in his 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.”
Pry joined the Vanderbilt staff in 2011 when Franklin was hired, becoming the codefensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He took the same positions at Penn State when Franklin moved there in in 2014.
When Bob Shoop left for Tennessee following the 2015 season, Pry was elevated to defensive coordinator. Penn State has gone 5321 in the last six seasons. Pry has coached such linebackers as All-American Micah Parsons, Jan Johnson, Cam Brown, Jason Cabinda, Mike Hull and Brandon Bell.
Pry is the latest Franklin assistant to become a head coach, joining Marshall’s Charles Huff, Old Dominion’s Ricky Rahne and former Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead, now Oregon’s offensive coordinator. Pry’s first game at Virginia Tech will be against Old Dominion and Rahne.
Stout leads All-Big Ten defense picks
Senior Jordan Stout, who drilled 25 kicks of at least 50 yards this season, was named Big Ten’s Punter of the Year.
Stout was joined on the All-Big Ten first team by defensive end Arnold Ebiketie and safety Jaquan Brisker, in voting by the conference coaches and a media panel. Nine other Penn State defensive and special teams players received All-Big Ten recognition. The offensive team will be named Wednesday.
Stout is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s top punter. He’s averaging 46.6 yards on 62 kicks and has allowed just 33 return yards. He’s a chief reason why Penn State ranks second nationally in net punting (45.1).
He’s dropped 34 of his punts inside the 20-yard line and is on track to set the school record for season and career average (44.8). Stout also received All-Big Ten honorable mention as a kicker.
Ebiketie, a senior transfer from Temple, leads the conference and is tied for seventh nationally with 17 tackles for losses, including 9.5 sacks. He’s made a tackle for loss in eight consecutive
games. He also has eight quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks.
Brisker, a senior transfer from Lackawanna College, is fourth on the team with 64 tackles, including 5.5 for loss. He also has two interceptions, one fumble recovery and five pass break-ups.
Penn State linebacker Ellis Brooks and defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, who missed the second half of the season with a knee injury, were voted to the second team by the coaches and received
honorable mention from the media.
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., linebacker Brandon Smith and return specialist Jahan Dotson were named to the third team by the coaches and received honorable mention from the media. Defensive end Jesse Luketa was voted to the third team by the media and received honorable mention from the coaches. Cornerback Tariq CastroFields and linebacker Curtis Jacobs received honorable mention.