Penn St.’s Pry takes over at Virginia Tech Texas Tech’s Cumbie takes over La. Tech
Virginia Tech hired Penn State defensive coordinator and former Bud Foster disciple Brent Pry as its next head coach.
The school made the announcement Tuesday, saying Pry will be introduced Thursday.
Pry has been with Penn State since 2014, first as co-defensive coordinator before becoming the defensive coordinator in 2016. Penn State has ranked in the top five in defense in the Big Ten every season since he’s been there.
He also has a history with the Hokies, having served as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line under coordinator Bud Foster from 1995-97. The Hokies went to bowl games each year and won the 1995 Sugar Bowl.
Pry said J.C. Price, the Hokies interim coach after Justin Fuente left last week, will remain on his staff as associate head coach/ defensive coach.
Louisiana Tech has hired Texas Tech offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie as its next football coach.
University officials announced the hiring Tuesday night and have a formal introduction scheduled for Wednesday.
Cumbie spent this past season as Texas Tech’s offensive coordinator and went 1-3 as interim head coach following the firing of Matt Wells in late October.
No. 2 recruit Nelson follows Riley to USC
The first recruiting domino of the Lincoln Riley era at USC has fallen. Los Alamitos (Calif.) High quarterback Malachi Nelson, a five-star prospect, flipped his pledge from Oklahoma to USC, less than 24 hours after Riley was introduced as the Trojans’ new coach. The No. 5 overall recruit and No. 2 quarterback in the class of 2023 according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings, Nelson had committed to Riley and Oklahoma over USC in July. But with Riley now in Los Angeles, the dual-threat passer wasted little time in following the coach.
Odds and ends
New Mexico State officially announced Jerry Kill as their coach on Monday. Kill served as interim head coach of TCU in the wake of Gary Patterson’s departure. … Auburn coach Bryan Harsin fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo after one season. … Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with the Wildcats through June 2028.