James Franklin announced Sunday that Brent Pry would become Penn State’s next defensive coordinator.
With the move, Pry will also become the associate head coach. Previously, Pry held the positions of co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Vanderbilt and Penn State under Franklin.
“I am very honored and appreciative of the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator at Penn State,” Pry said in a Penn State press release. “I am excited about the future of this program and this defense. There has been a lot of work put in these first two years by a very loyal group of players, coaches and staff. I’m looking forward to the successes that lie ahead for our football family.”
Under Pry’s supervision, Penn State finished the football season as a Top 15 defensive program two years in a row. Under Penn State’s “Linebacker U” moniker, Pry helped develop former linebacker Mike Hull into a Butkus-Fitzgerald winner.
“Brent has had a dramatic impact on our defense and our team for the last five years and he is very deserving of this opportunity to move into the defensive coordinator position,” Franklin said. “Brent’s promotion will help make this a smooth transition and allow us to continue to build one of the top defenses in the country.”
With the move, Terry M. Smith was named assistant head coach, though he retains the title of defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach; defensive line coach Sean Spencer will be the run game coordinator.
Congratulations to Coach Pry, named #PennState Defensive Coordinator. #WeAre https://t.co/fuul48kWRc pic.twitter.com/W5RsuUmoXx
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) January 10, 2016
Photo Credit: lancasteronline.com
