Shuffling Staff Has Brent Pry Optimistic For Year 2 At Virginia Tech

Andy Bitter

Senior Staff Writer

May 03, 2023 30

Year 1 at Virginia Tech was challenging for Brent Pry and the Hokies, but he's optimistic for Year 2. (Jon Fleming)

Brent Pry didn’t mince words when grading his Year 1 performance at Virginia Tech, acknowledging a fairly steep learning curve and admitting his attention to the defensive side of the ball as the play-caller for much of the season detracted from his head coaching duties.

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30 Comments

GOML May 4, 2023 at 5:21 PM

Even though reading about Tech sports is not work related, some habits die hard/ bleed over (e.g., identify key /new/pareto info in report) - and this stood out to me: "When Glenn interviewed for a coordinator job early in the offseason, ... Though that job didn’t work out for Glenn, ..." (i.e., was not just Cincinnati). Stikes me that the interest in his first hires - by successful programs - supports a conclusion that Pry hired a talented staff in 2021 (see Glenn, Rudolph, Mines [30%]). And how Pry has handled subsequent hires & retention is also important too. It is clear by reading the comments to AB' May 2 & 3 articles that many others see Pry differently than I do - but I see a winner.
Hokietech May 4, 2023 at 10:50 AM

I will say that people at Penn State that worked with Bowen were very high on him and thought he had a bright future there. I know year one was bad as it could be but, I’m hopeful that he will improve and so will the offense. Go Hokies!
PenthouseAlumni May 4, 2023 at 9:44 AM

Would we ever see Virginia Tech hire someone as a GM type position to let Pry focus on coaching? I know Villanova basketball just hired someone like that. With NIL and transfer portal, I don't know how Pry makes time to focus on schemes and coaching.
HokieACC May 3, 2023 at 11:05 PM

I like Pry as a head coach, but the decision to hire an offensive coordinator with no P5 experience may come back to haunt him if this year's offense looks as lost as last year's. Especially if things continue to go south offensively this year and/or next year and he digs in to keep Bowen. Not saying Bud Foster should be a head coach, but I seriously doubt coach Foster or any other first year head coach would make the same mistake to hire not one, but two coordinators without P5 experience.
1. atlhokie1 May 4, 2023 at 8:18 AM
  
  Call me the optimist (and usually am not), but I expect the offense to be greatly improved this year.
  1. `lag May 4, 2023 at 9:21 AM
    
    I expect the offense to be improved just how much is the $64k question.
    1. George Baylor May 4, 2023 at 10:28 AM
      
      +1
e4007 May 3, 2023 at 10:30 PM

You can't expect Pry to come in year one,make his staff hires evaluate a roster that Maryland took to the woodshed in the bowl,and overcome terrible recruiting by Fu and actually play 500 ball..If you hire the top CEO"s from the best corporations and expect to produce 4 star results in a bankrupt organization well you get my drift.People wanted Beamers head after year 3 so take a breath.Pry at least knows what he wants to accomplish and he's definitely got a vision on how to accomplish it.IMHO...
1. McHokie78 May 3, 2023 at 10:44 PM
  
  Well said. I agree.
2. hokie_eikoh May 4, 2023 at 5:12 AM
  
  +1
3. gaholder81 May 4, 2023 at 5:34 AM
  
  The roster that Pry inherited was definitely NOT the roster that was in the Pinstripe Bowl. So many injuries and transfers. Not close to the same. It still wasn't a good roster. Just not the same. The hiring of Bowen was a huge mistake and then to keep Bowen on and give him MORE responsibilities is what may undo Pry.
4. SCHokie1103 May 4, 2023 at 9:43 AM
  
  And OK you can’t continue to blame Fuentes for everything that is going on at Virginia tech right now. There is a lot more blame to go around and if you’re unwilling to understand that and be real then you’re just not being honest.
133976Hokie May 3, 2023 at 9:47 PM

Pry is basically rebuilding a program from scratch. It's going to take a couple of seasons. It's fine to be disappointed about last season but that is past. Let's see how things improve and in what areas. Pry himself said the offense couldn't get anything done because the OLine was making mistakes and plays were blown up before they could ever get going. No offense, however creative, can consistently produce when the OLine is beaten like a drum
HokieJB May 3, 2023 at 7:44 PM

Did Bowen ever play QB?
N2VT2 May 3, 2023 at 7:33 PM

So we're paying Pry $4.25M and Bowen $850K for OJT to produce a 3-8 record, and Brooks made $625 K to come within one game of playing for NC. I know they are apples and oranges. But this double-down on Bowen makes me scratch my head. "I'll be a better head coach this year." I'm sure every HC says that.
1. gaholder81 May 3, 2023 at 8:43 PM
  
  “I think the move with Coach Bowen has to be one of the better decisions I’ve made to this point,” Pry said. “I feel really good about that.” This is the talk of a delusional man.
  1. 133976Hokie May 3, 2023 at 9:41 PM
    
    He explains why it is a good move. What makes it delusional? It'll either work out or it won't. Nothing that Pry said seems out in left field.
    1. gaholder81 May 4, 2023 at 5:40 AM
      
      It's just my opinion of course, but to hire Bowen in the first place with his lack of experience was not smart, then, when it goes exactly as one would expect from such a resume, you give him MORE responsibilities closer to the QB? To me that is not a sound decision to put it mildly. But who knows. The light could turn on suddenly for Bowen.
GO_HOKIES_GO May 3, 2023 at 6:54 PM

Pry keeps saying what bright guy Bowen is, but after three games last year against mediocre competition a competent OC would have made some serious adjustments - instead it was very incremental across the season. I hope the staff changes let Bowen achieve his goals, but it is far from a sure thing that this year’s offense is orders of magnitude better than last year. I am not interested in hearing about talent in 2023 - the offense needs to move the ball and score points (not necessarily win games) this season regardless of how many “stars” the players had in high school.
Spartacusjones May 3, 2023 at 6:20 PM

I think we're still a couple of years away from knowing if Pry is going to survive (I almost said succeed) as head coach of the Hokies. He is really rebuilding from the ground up and the tree he planted last year cannot really be expected to bear fruit until the 24-25 season. He needs to get more players truly 3stavlished in their positions and playing within his chosen schemes before we can see if what he's trying to do will work. It's gonna be a tough couple of years for Hokie fans. Stressful times ahead until we know.
phoenixhokie May 3, 2023 at 6:04 PM

This is not a make or break year for Pry. Just stop that garbage. The Florida States and Texas’ fire coaches after 2 years, Tech does not and will not. Assistants are another story but Pry will get his 3-4 to right the ship. #GetAGrip
1. GOML May 3, 2023 at 6:40 PM
  
  • 100% agree. • I’ll add that at this point in my career it is possible to identify some of the best managerial advice that I ever received. For me, the top three includes: 1) You lead your way to success. Pry will be a difference maker, now and in the future. • Some of these negative comments about Pry make me think of Beamer’ early years, and the guy who called his house after a loss and cussed out his daughter.
OrangeHokieFan May 3, 2023 at 5:34 PM

Win or get out. Bowen better show something this year. Last year lacked creativity and the head whistle was just as bad.
Kroger4x4 May 3, 2023 at 4:07 PM

Seems like a make or break year for Bowen.
1. HokieDelNorte May 3, 2023 at 4:47 PM
  
  Everyone needs to improve.
  1. McHokie78 May 3, 2023 at 10:50 PM
    
    We are all trying to get better.
2. 01_hokie May 3, 2023 at 4:55 PM
  
  Same for Pry. By the end of this year we will know if he can field a competent group on both sides of the ball. I think Pry will do well but Bowen is a wild card who still has to prove he is a P5 OC.
3. Hokie101 May 3, 2023 at 4:56 PM
  
  And a make or break it year for Pry! About as bad as it could be in year 1 I’m hopeful for a huge 180 degrees in year two Pry seems like a good guy, a great cultural fit, an enthusiastic recruiter, now if he develops into a good Head Coach, we will have something to work with
phtbddh May 3, 2023 at 3:26 PM

Tbow has a lot to prove this season. I really hope he turns it around.
1. CoachSchoen22 May 4, 2023 at 2:40 AM
  
  lol. Tbow

Shuffling Staff Has Brent Pry Optimistic For Year 2 At Virginia Tech

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