Following an 0-3 start, ESPN's Pete Thamel is reporting that Virginia Tech plans to fire football head coach Brent Pry today.
Virginia Tech has since announced Pry’s firing at 1:45pm, at the same as David Teel reported that VT would be holding a meeting with players to inform them of the news. Offensive coordinator and former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery will take over as the interim head coach.
One thing of note is that the message has President Tim Sands’ stamp on it rather than Athletic Director Whit Babcock’s. While Babcock is mentioned later on in regards to funding work, it seems even more clear that an AD change is also on the horizon.
Here’s the full message from Tim Sands.
“Coach Brent Pry has been relieved of his coaching duties effective immediately. We appreciate Coach Pry’s efforts and service since 2021. Unfortunately, the results on the field were not acceptable and a change in leadership is necessary. Philip Montgomery will serve as interim head coach. We will continue to fully support our team and student-athletes for the remaining games as we strive together to significantly improve the trajectory of our football program this season.
To our students, alumni, and the rest of Hokie Nation, we understand and share your disappointment with the season so far. As we move forward together, please join us in supporting and encouraging our student-athletes and athletics staff as they take on this new challenge.
Board of Visitors members J. Pearson and Ryan McCarthy have been charged by the rector, John Rocovich, to work with university leadership and AD Whit Babcock to develop a financial, organizational and leadership plan that will rapidly position the Virginia Tech football program to be competitive with the best in the ACC. That plan will be presented to the Board of Visitors later this month. The new framework for college sports will be fully established for next season, so this is the time to make a major move.”
Brent Pry released the following statement as well as shared by Virginia Tech.
“On behalf of Amy and our entire family, I want to thank President Sands, Whit, and the Virginia Tech community for giving me the opportunity to lead this proud football program. Coaching at Virginia Tech has been an incredible honor and a chapter of our lives we will always cherish.
To the outstanding young men I have been privileged to coach, you have left a lasting mark on me and my family. Your hard work, resilience, and commitment to excellence—on the field, in the classroom, and as members of the community—have been inspiring every single day.
To the dedicated assistant coaches and support staff, I am grateful beyond words. Your sacrifice, professionalism, and loyalty keep this program running and create the foundation for everything our players achieve.
To our donors and the passionate Hokie faithful, your unwavering support to our entire football program, in every facet, has been vital. I encourage you to continue backing these players and this program; your energy and enthusiasm make Lane Stadium one of the best environments in college football.
Finally, to Amy and the rest of our family—thank you for your constant love and strength. We have been in this together from the start, and we will take the next steps of our journey the same way.
Blacksburg will always hold a special place in our hearts. We leave with wonderful memories and lifelong friendships, and we will forever be cheering for the Hokies.”
Pry finishes his tenure with a 16-24 record including a 10-21 record against Power 4 opponents, a 1-12 record in one-score games, and three losses to Group of 5 opponents. His record is the worst for a Virginia Tech head coach since Charlie Coffey went 12-20-1 from 1971-73.
This was a tenure that was riddled with errors after errors from the start when a first time head coach chose to hire a pair of coordinators who had a combined one year of coordinating experience, with that being Tyler Bowen's one season as Fordham's OC. Odd decisions and clear mistakes defined the Pry era as the Hokies briefly showed a glimmer of hope in 2023 but were never able to come close to reaching the level that Pry believed he could deliver.
Outside of fixing recruiting relationships within the region, the Pry tenure was an abject failure with Pry being the least successful head coach at Virginia Tech in the last 50 years in about every measurable facet. While it's clear that Tech is not where it once was on the resource front, the resources were more than there for Pry to be successful and to only have one winning record and that be a 7-6 season is completely unacceptable.
Virginia Tech now enters a pivotal moment in its football history with a program that feels like it is trending towards being on the outside looking in of a potential schism among the most powerful brands and conferences in the sport. A change in athletic director will almost certainly be following the Hokies' decision to move on from Pry.
You can read more about the demise of Pry at Virginia Tech via my piece on why now was indeed the time for the Hokies to move on from Pry here.
It's unfortunate this had to happen, but as someone wrote on Reddit: "He's good at every aspect of being a HC except for coaching the games." He's a very likable guy, one that I wanted to represent our program, but the results weren't there, or they were middling at best.