Report: Longtime Penn State staffer headed to Virginia Tech

New Virginia Tech head football coach Brent Pry is pulling Michael Hazel from Penn State to be Pry’s chief of staff in Blacksburg, according to a report from The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Hazel, who had served as Penn State’s senior director of football operations under James Franklin for the past three seasons, is making the move to Virginia Tech with Pry, who was the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2016-21.

Prior to working at Penn State, Hazel had a long run at Vanderbilt with Franklin from 2004-14 – including three years in the role of director of football operations. Hazel played linebacker at Elon and graduated in 2001.

Hazel has been recognized for his work in football operations, as he was named FootballScoop’s Operations Director of the Year in 2020 after being a finalist for the award in both 2015 and 2016.

Virginia Tech releases contract details for new head coach Brent Pry

Virginia Tech officially introduced its new head football coach, former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry, to Hokie Nation in a press conference on Dec. 2.

Shortly after Pry issued a statement and fielded questions, the details of his new contract were released by Virginia Tech.

Under a new six-year deal, Pry’s total pay is set to be $4 million in each of his first two years, then rise to $4.75M for 2024 and 2025 and $5M for 2026 and 2027. Former Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente had been set for $4.25M this season, not including a 10% pandemic reduction.

There is also a $5.5 million budget allotted for 10 full-time assistant coaches and $2.25 million for support staff written into Pry’s contract with Virginia Tech.

Pry, 51, replaces Fuente, who was let go Nov. 16 after his teams went 43-31 in six seasons.

Pry returns to Blacksburg where he served as a defensive graduate assistant from 1995 to 1997 under head coach Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

Pry spent the past six seasons as Penn State’s defensive coordinator and has helped produce Top-25 units in total defense in eight of his past 12 seasons, including four at Penn State, three at Vanderbilt and one at Georgia Southern. At one point this season, the Nittany Lions ranked seventh in scoring defense, allowing 16.8 points per game.

On3’s Sean Labar contributed to this report.