Brent Pry raves over James Franklin, ability to produce head coaches in college football

Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry has set the Hokies up for success ahead of his third season in Blacksburg, a role that represents the first head coaching job of his career after being a long-time assistant at the college level.

Prior to taking over the Hokies’ program, Pry spent eight seasons at Penn State and and three at Vanderbilt all under head coach James Franklin. Serving in a multitude of roles from defensive coordinator, to associate head coach, and linebackers coach. And at ACC Media Days on Tuesday, he spoke about the influence Franklin has had on his coaching career.

“First of all, James Franklin I consider to be one of my best friends and we came up in this business together,” Pry said. “He played quarterback for my father at East Stroudsburg. I was a young coach on his staff and he gave me a great opportunity at Vanderbilt and then at Penn State. I learned a ton from James.”

The two Pennsylvania natives got their coaching career started at East Stroudsburg, a Division II program where both Pry and Franklin served as position coaches early in their careers during the 90s. Which for Pry was followed by the first college position of his career as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech.

Pry returned to Virginia Tech ahead of the 2022 season and since then Franklin’s head coaching tree has only grown. Which now also includes new Duke head coach Manny Diaz, who returns to the ACC following a previous stint at Miami after spending the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator under Franklin with the Nittany Lions.

“But I think he’s done a great job,”Pry said of Franklin. “Ricky Rahne at Old Dominion, Charles Huff at Marshall, he’s doing things the right way and I got a ton of respect for him.”

“I got ton of respect for Manny, I wish him a ton of luck all season long except for one week,” Pry smiled and said.

Pry helped deliver Virginia Tech’s best season since 2019 last season following a 7-6 finish last year. Returning 84% of their production from last year heading into a 2024 season with high expectations for the Hokies.

The expectations will not be as high for Diaz and the Blue Devils as he looks to rebuild the program following the exit of Mike Elko and a majority of last season’s contributors. But regardless, the showdown between the two former Penn State coordinators will be fascinating to watch in a Week 13 matchup on November 23.