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Reports: Brent Pry Set to Return to Virginia Tech as James Franklin's Defensive Coordinator

The unusual reunion reflects Franklin’s decades-long partnership with Pry.

Overview

  • Multiple outlets, including ESPN and CBS Sports, report Pry is set to become Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator under James Franklin, with other reports framing him as Franklin’s target.
  • Pry was fired on Sept. 14 after an 0-3 start and finished 16-24 as the Hokies’ head coach across nearly four seasons.
  • He previously spent more than a decade on Franklin’s staffs at Vanderbilt and Penn State, where his defenses produced several top-10 national rankings.
  • Pry’s buyout was reported at roughly $6 million to just over $6.8 million, subject to offset if he accepts another coaching job.
  • Franklin’s early rebuild features expanded resources and recruiting gains, including a Board-approved $229 million athletics funding plan and a 2026 class that has moved into the national top 25.