Brent Pry: Who is| Wife| Buyout| Contract| Wiki

Brent Pry: Who Is He?

Brenton James “Brent” Pry (born April 1, 1970) is an American college football coach and former player. Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Pry has built a decades-long coaching career.

He played college football as a safety, first at Maryville College (1988) and then at the University at Buffalo (1989–1991) before an injury ended his playing career.

Pry’s coaching career began in 1992 as a student coach at Buffalo, and since then, he has held numerous defensive coaching roles, including at East Stroudsburg, Western Carolina, Louisiana–Lafayette, Memphis, and Georgia Southern.

From 2016 to 2021, he served as the defensive coordinator at Penn State, where his defenses were consistently among the nation’s best.

On November 30, 2021, Pry was named the head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies, returning to the school where he was once a graduate assistant.

However, after a rough start to the 2025 season — including an 0–3 record — Virginia Tech fired Pry.

Wife and Family

• Brent Pry is married to Amy Pry.

• The couple has three children: a son named Colby, and two daughters, Madeline and Catherine.

• According to reports, Brent has frequently praised Amy on social media, calling her the “love of his life.”

• On a philanthropic note, Brent Pry and his wife Amy have announced they will donate 100% of his season earnings and sponsorship income to charities, including homeless relief organizations.

Contract & Buyout

• In 2021, Pry signed a six-year contract worth $27.5 million with Virginia Tech, running through 2027.

• His base salary structure (per reports) was:

  • 2024 & 2025: $4.75 million each year

  • 2026 & 2027: $5.0 million per year.

• The buyout clause: Because of his firing, Virginia Tech owes him 70% of his base salary for the remaining years, except for the final year (2027), where they owe 50%.

• Based on that formula, the buyout is estimated at about $6 million, which Virginia Tech is expected to pay in monthly installments through the end of 2027.

• According to some reporting, the buyout payments come from department-generated funds linked to the ACC media deal, meaning Virginia Tech isn’t using donor or tuition money for his severance.

Wiki-Style Profile (Brent Pry)

• Full Name: Brenton James Pry

• Date of Birth: April 1, 1970

• Birthplace: Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.

• Playing Career:

  • Maryville College (1988)

  • University at Buffalo (1989–1991) as Safety

• Coaching Career:

  • 1992: Buffalo (student coach)

  • 1993–1994: East Stroudsburg (OLB/DB)

  • 1995–1997: Virginia Tech (Graduate Assistant)

  • 1998–1999: Western Carolina (Defensive Line)

  • 2000–2001: Western Carolina (DB/Special Teams)

  • 2002–2006: Louisiana–Lafayette (Assistant Head / Defensive Coordinator / LB)

  • 2007–2009: Memphis (Defensive Line)

  • 2010: Georgia Southern (Defensive Coordinator / Safeties)

  • 2011–2013: Vanderbilt (Assistant Head / Co-DC / LB)

  • 2014–2015: Penn State (Assistant Head / Co-DC / LB)

  • 2016–2021: Penn State (Defensive Coordinator / LB)

  • 2022–2025: Virginia Tech (Head Coach)

• Head Coaching Record: As of his termination in 2025, Pry’s record at Virginia Tech stood around 16–24 overall.

• Family: Wife – Amy Pry; Children – Colby (son), Madeline and Catherine (daughters).

• Notable: He comes from a football family — his father, Jim Pry, was a longtime college coach.

Analysis: Impact & Legacy

• Return to Virginia Tech: Pry’s hiring was framed as a homecoming. He previously served as a graduate assistant at Tech, and his familiarity with the institution was a major plus.

• Philanthropy: The decision by Pry and his wife to donate his season earnings and sponsorship money reflects a strong commitment to community and social responsibility.

• Financial Implications: His firing and the significant buyout highlight the financial risk universities take when investing in coaching contracts — but also show how media rights and revenue-sharing (like the ACC deal) can buffer such costs.

• Coaching Profile: Known for his defensive acumen, Pry built a reputation at Penn State before getting his first head coaching job. His tenure at Virginia Tech showed flashes — but the poor start in 2025 proved costly.