Brent Pry enters his second year on James Franklin's staff, serving as linebackers coach. He also holds the title of co-defensive coordinator.
Pry joined the Commodore staff after a hugely successful season as defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern, sharing a similar route to Nashville as Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. And much like Shoop, Pry made the most of the Southeastern Conference coaching opportunity in 2011.
Building his linebackers around All-SEC recipient Chris Marve, Pry's corps became one of the most productive defensive positions. The linebackers were vital to Vanderbilt's improvement in virtually every defensive statistical category. The defense soared in SEC and NCAA rankings, finishing the year 18th nationally in total defense. The unit also finished fourth in the SEC in rush defense.
While Marve earned All-SEC honors for the third straight year, Pry mentored several untested prospects into key productive roles, including Archibald Barnes, Chase Garnham and Tristan Strong.
Pry joined Vanderbilt after leading a quick resurgance at Georgia Southern. With Pry's help, the Eagles roared back to national prominence among Division I FCS teams in 2010.
With Pry serving as defensive coordinator and safeties coach, Georgia Southern advanced to the 2010 NCAA FCS national semifinals with a 10-5 overall record. The
campaign also included a regular season victory over No. 1-ranked Appalachian State.
The GSU defense under Pry contributed greatly to the rise in prominence. The unit ranked ninth nationally in total defense and 11th in scoring defense.
Pry joined Georgia Southern from the University of Memphis, where he served three years as the Tigers' defensive line coach. At Memphis, he was part of a staff that guided the Tigers to two bowl games, and molded a defensive line in 2008 into one of the Conference USA's best.
From 2002-06, Pry served at Louisiana-Lafayette, holding positions of assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. The 2005 Louisiana-Lafayette squad earned a Sun Belt Conference title and featured five
players that eventually played in the NFL.
Pry was an assistant coach at Western Carolina from 1998-2001,
mentoring the defensive line for two years, then secondary and
special teams for two years. He also worked three years as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech.
Pry began his coaching career at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University in 1993. During Pry's tenure, East Stroudsburg's offense was directed by a standout quarterback who now serves as Vanderbilt's newest head coach.
A free safety at Maryville (Tenn.) College in 1988, Pry later transferred to the University of Buffalo. Pry lettered in 1990, then suffered a career-ending injury in 1991, only to return as a student coach in 1992.
Pry is a second generation college football coach. His father, Jim, has coached at the college level for more than 30 years.
Pry and his wife, Amy, are the parents of a son, Colby, and two daughters, Madeline, and Catherine.
The Pry File Personal Date of Birth: April 1, 1970 Hometown: Altoona, Pa. Alma Mater: University of Buffalo (1993) Education: Bachelor's, history, Buffalo (1993) Family: wife, Amy; son, Colby, daughters, Madeline and Catherine
Pry's Coaching Career
2011-current - Vanderbilt (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2010 - Georgia Southern (defensive coordinator and safeties) 2007-09 - Memphis (defensive line) 2004-06 - Louisiana-Lafayette (assistant head coach, defensive coordinators and linebackers) 2002-03 - Louisiana-Lafayette (defensive coordinator and linebackers) 2000-01 - Western Carolina (defensive backs and special teams) 1998-99 - Western Carolina (defensive line) 1995-98 - Virginia Tech (graduate assistant, defensive line) 1993-94 - East Stroudsburg University (outside linebackers and defensive backs)
