Brent Pry Fired Following Loss to ODU, Montgomery Named Interim

After an embarrassing 45-26 loss to ODU that moved the Hokies to 0-3 for the first time since 1987, ESPN's Pete Thamel dropped the hammer that many Hokie fans had been waiting for Sunday morning. 

Pete Thamel
@PeteThamel

Sources: Virginia Tech plans to fire coach Brent Pry today. He’s gone 16-24 through four seasons and started this year 0-3. He’s set to be owed more than $6 million in buyout.

That news was later made official by Virginia Tech. Pry went 16-24 through four seasons in Blacksburg. He took over the program in 2022 from Justin Fuente and began a massive rebuild. After a disappointing 3-8 record in his first season, Pry turned things around with a 7-6 year in 2023. Unfortunately, the Hokies were unable to build off that success and roster full of returning players. Tech would go 6-7, with a loss to Minnesota in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. This season, after a competitive showing down in Atlanta against South Carolina and an impressive first half against Vanderbilt, the wheels fell off for Pry and the Hokies. They have been outscored 89-46 at home in their last two outings, including the drubbing by the Monarchs on Saturday night. Boos and chants calling for Pry's job rained down from the faithful at Lane Stadium. Between the game, the fan's emotions, and the downbeat press conference that followed, this decision seemed inevitable.

So, what comes next for the Hokies? Offensive Coordinator Philip Montgomery is now the interim Head Coach. Montgomery was the head man at Tulsa for eight years spanning 2015-2022. In that time, he went 43-53 with four bowl appearances. Now, Montgomery will be tasked with leading the Hokies through conference play and an overall uncertain time for the program. 

The roster that Pry and the staff spent so much time and energy building this offseason could look radically different in the coming weeks. The Hokies have yet to play their fourth game, meaning players still have the option to redshirt. A 30-day transfer portal window also opens after a coach is fired. Montgomery's first task as the head man will be trying to keep this roster together. 

There will, of course, be more questions, updates, and fallout from this major shakeup in Blacksburg. Stay with Sons of Saturday for the latest as Virginia Tech enters a new era of football. 

Virginia Tech Football
@HokiesFB

Leadership transition underway for Virginia Tech football ➡️ vthoki.es/kTaXo