BLACKSBURG 鈥 Brent Pry opened his tenure at Virginia Tech in 2022 with a loss at Old Dominion.
It ended with a thud on Saturday night in a home loss to the Monarchs.
Pry was fired Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Hokies were embarrassed for the second consecutive week at home. A 45-26 loss to ODU at Lane Stadium 鈥 his first setback to the Monarchs since the 2022 opener 鈥 served as the bookend of Pry鈥檚 tenure in Blacksburg.
The buyout of Pry鈥檚 contract that runs through the 2027 season is expected to be more than $6 million.
鈥淯nfortunately, the results on the field were not acceptable and a change in leadership is necessary,鈥 Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in a press release.
Sands also announced offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery will serve as the interim coach.
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Pry entered a pivotal fourth season needing to show progress on the field and have victories follow suit. There was a semblance of steps forward shown in the season-opening loss to South Carolina and over the first half against Vanderbilt, but those gains the Hokies made over the season鈥檚 opening six quarters went down the drain the moment the team retook the field for the second half against the Commodores.
Vanderbilt scored 34 unanswered points. It outgained the Hokies by nearly 300 yards (307-21) after halftime. The 44-20 loss was the latest setback the Hokies couldn鈥檛 afford under Pry鈥檚 watch.
ODU鈥檚 dominating opening half Saturday night featured the Monarchs taking a 28-0 lead into intermission. The visitors outgained the Hokies 334-147.
It was a four-quarter stretch at home in which Tech was outscored 62-0 and outgained 641-168.
Brent Pry heard the boos as Virginia Tech headed to the locker room Saturday evening. The fans鈥 chants of wanting him fired as the Hokies鈥 football coach didn鈥檛 go unnoticed, either.
The Hokies were ushered to the locker room at halftime Saturday by a chorus of boos as fans headed to the exits at Lane Stadium during intermission.
鈥淚 see the strides we鈥檝e made a program. I know it doesn鈥檛 show on the field tonight. Our roster鈥檚 deeper than it鈥檚 been,鈥 Pry said after Saturday night鈥檚 game. 鈥溾 I鈥檓 proud of the team that we have as far as the guys in that locker room. They鈥檙e wired the right way, they鈥檙e at Virginia Tech for the right reasons.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 talent in that locker room; it鈥檚 not the talent that we need yet to be a team that can contend for championships, but it鈥檚 an improved roster. These guys have busted their butt and gave us a chance at South Carolina and played a heck of a half against Vanderbilt. It鈥檚 a four-quarter game. This was very disappointing and unexpected tonight.鈥
The displeasure signaled the conclusion of Pry鈥檚 time in Blacksburg with a 16-24 record.
The Hokies鈥 struggles over his three-plus seasons are linked to Pry鈥檚 inability to win one-score games (1-12) and losing to nonconference Power Four opponents (0-8). The tenor of his 40-game tenure could have easily been different if Tech found ways to manage the clock better in those close losses and beaten a team from the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12.
Saturday鈥檚 setback marked the Hokies鈥 first 0-3 start since 1987. That season was overshadowed by a two-year probation, loss of scholarships and other penalties for recruiting violations under former coach Bill Dooley.
Pry was hired as the Hokies鈥 35th head football coach on Nov. 30, 2021, to replace Justin Fuente. He presented a vision of rebuilding the program that was focused on dominating in-state recruiting and returning to the blue-collar work ethic that defined the glory years under Frank Beamer.
The Hokies struggled in Pry鈥檚 debut season with a 3-8 record. Pry was allowed to hire two first-time coordinators in Tyler Bowen (offense) and Chris Marve (defense), and the growing pains were seen in the 2022 season and the beginning of the 2023 campaign.
The Hokies lost seven straight games in 2022 and concluded the season with 23-22 road win over Liberty.
Tech rebounded from a 1-3 start in 2023 to finish with a 7-5 record following a Military Bowl win over Tulane. The ability to retain most every starter from the season led to heightened expectations in the 2024 campaign.
What did many think of the Hokies heading into Pry鈥檚 third season? Tech received votes in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll. It was considered an ACC title contender and dark horse candidate to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Tech opened the season with a loss at Vanderbilt and was 2-2 heading into ACC play. The Hokies, after a heartbreaking loss at Miami, reeled off three straight victories and was 5-3 overall and 3-1 in ACC play heading into November.
An overtime loss at Syracuse opened a dreadful final month of the season as Tech lost three straight and needed a win over Virginia in the regular-season finale to become bowl eligible.
The Hokies, depleted by players entering the transfer portal and electing to opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft, fell to Minnesota in the Duke鈥檚 Mayo Bowl.
Pry made multiple changes on his staff during the offseason. He fired Marve, offensive line coach Ron Crook and strength and conditioning coordinator Dwight Galt IV, and offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen left not long before spring practice to become Ohio State鈥檚 offensive line coach.
Pry replaced the four vacancies with Montgomery, defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes, offensive line coach Matt Moore and strength and conditioning coordinator Jarrett Ferguson.
Through three weeks, the new blood on staff didn鈥檛 lead to victories. In fact, the three losses to open this season meant Tech went 1-7 in Pry鈥檚 final eight games.
