When Virginia Tech found itself on the cusp of hiring James Franklin last fall, the natural question wasn’t just if he’d take the job - it was who he’d bring with him. And for anyone who’s followed Franklin’s coaching journey, one name stood out right away: Brent Pry.
The connection between Franklin and Pry runs deep. We’re talking about a relationship that started back in the 1990s at East Stroudsburg, when Franklin was still slinging passes as a quarterback and Pry was a young assistant coach.
Franklin’s offensive coordinator at the time? Pry’s father, Jim.
That bond only strengthened over the years. When Franklin got his first head coaching gig at Vanderbilt in 2011, Pry was one of his first calls.
He served as co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for three years before following Franklin to Penn State in 2014, where he eventually took over as the full-time defensive coordinator.
So when rumors swirled about Franklin heading to Blacksburg, the idea of Pry rejoining him on staff made all the sense in the world. Except, there was one major wrinkle: Virginia Tech had already fired Pry as head coach earlier in the 2025 season.
Pry’s time leading the Hokies didn’t go the way many had hoped. He arrived in 2022 with deep ties to the program and the region - a Lexington, Virginia native who once dreamed of playing for Tech, only to get his big coaching break there in 1995 as a graduate assistant under Frank Beamer and Bud Foster. But after posting a 16-24 record and being let go just three games into the 2025 season, it looked like his Hokies chapter had closed.
Turns out, it was just getting a rewrite.
On Wednesday, Virginia Tech introduced its new coordinators, and there was Pry - back in front of the media, smiling wide, sounding energized, and yes, still very much at home in Blacksburg.
“It’s good to be back,” he said. “Feel refreshed, excited, great group of young men to work with. Great staff, working with Coach [Franklin] again - it took not even a full day to be back.”
For some, returning to the same program just months after being let go might feel awkward. For Pry, it was the opposite.
The decision, he said, was easy. The reasons?
His connection with Franklin, his love for Virginia Tech, and the fact that his family had truly settled into the community. They weren’t ready to leave - and now, they don’t have to.
Franklin, for his part, shared a moment that said a lot about Pry’s standing with the players. During a team meeting, Pry walked in - and the room erupted into a standing ovation. That doesn’t happen unless you’ve earned real respect in the locker room.
And that’s the thing with Pry. Despite the struggles on the field, he was well-liked by his players and had made meaningful inroads in recruiting and rebuilding relationships with high school coaches across Virginia. His impact wasn’t always reflected in the win column, but it laid some important groundwork - groundwork that helped make Franklin’s arrival possible.
Pry spoke candidly about what it means to be back, and he didn’t shy away from the emotions involved.
“I love Virginia Tech,” he said. “I think everybody knows that.
So, a chance to continue - there was no bitterness for me. A chance to continue to help Virginia Tech turn the corner and be proud again.
I want that. And this was an opportunity to continue to do that.
And then, my family and I love this community. My kids love Blacksburg High.
We love being here in Blacksburg and representing Tech.”
It’s rare to see a coach return to the same building after being fired - especially without a winning record to lean on. But Pry’s return isn’t just about X’s and O’s. It’s about humility, relationships, and a deep-rooted connection to a place that still feels like home.
As Virginia Tech enters a new era under Franklin, there’s legitimate optimism building around the program. But one of the most meaningful storylines heading into 2026 isn’t just about who’s calling the plays - it’s about second chances, and a coach who never really left.