http://www.dailypress.com/sports/hampton...story.html

Quote:Hampton University announces Robert Prunty as head football coach


Robert Prunty, East Carolina’s defensive coordinator this past season, has been hired as Hampton University’s 21st head football coach. He will be officially introduced at a 1 p.m. press conference Friday.

Prunty, a native of Chatham, spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach on the FBS level. He began last fall as East Carolina’s associate head coach and defensive line coach. After the second game, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

From 2013-16, Prunty was on the staff at Cincinnati, where he was co-defensive coordinator his last three years. Prior to that, he spent three seasons as the defensive ends coach at Texas Tech.

Scout.com recognized Prunty as his conference’s Recruiter of the Year four times — twice at Cincinnati and twice at Texas Tech.

“Coach Prunty’s record of consistent, sustained, outstanding performance will take our football program to the next level,” Hampton President William R. Harvey said in a statement. “I enthusiastically welcome him to Hampton Nation.”

Prunty’s hire comes at a significant point in the program’s history. Three weeks ago, Hampton announced it will leave the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association for the Big South in July. However, football might not be able to make the jump until the 2019 season.

This will be Prunty’s first head coaching job on the college level.

“I would like to thank President Dr. William R. Harvey and Athletic Director Eugene Marshall Jr. for this opportunity,” Prunty said in a statement. “I will give all that I have to make this program successful for our university, alumni, fans, and our community.

“There is plenty of work to be done until we reach our goal. But we will all work tirelessly to get us there.”

Prunty, whose age was listed at 52 in ECU’s media guide, will be the Pirates’ fourth coach since 2007. He follows Connell Maynor, who resigned on Nov. 20 after his fourth season.

Michael Ketchum, HU’s defensive coordinator the last three seasons, has been the interim head coach since Maynor’s departure.

Prunty brings Virginia roots to HU. He was the head coach at Hargrave Military Academy in his hometown of Chatham from 2002-09. Before that, he was the head coach at Gretna High from 1993-2001.

The Hawks had lost 44 consecutive games before he took over. In his third season, they finished 7-3. He laid the foundation for Gretna to win four state championships from 2003-08.

Prunty is a 1988 graduate of Alabama A&M, where he received his degree in social work.

Alright...who should tell them...not it!

Dude helmed the Worst Defense in the Country last year and somehow gets a Head Coaching gig...

(12-07-2017 05:07 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Alright...who should tell them...not it!

Dude helmed the Worst Defense in the Country last year and somehow gets a Head Coaching gig...

I know it's not a popular take, but I still don't think the correlation/overlap between successful coordinator and succesful head coach is as high as most people seem to think it is. Obviously it's a different level but he was pretty successful as a HC at Gretna and Hargrave it appears at a fairly young age. I suspect he'll recruit well, relatively speaking, at Hampton and if he can hire some quality coaches I don't see why he can't be successful there over time as they transition up. We'll see I guess.

Coach Prunty grew up in a Virginia city near where I live in North Carolina. He politely answered an email I sent him when he first came with The Walking Dead Coach. Great guy and I'm happy for him. It's Hampton University so he can handle the job IMO. Best of luck to him and his family.

(12-07-2017 05:07 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  http://www.dailypress.com/sports/hampton...story.html

Quote:Hampton University announces Robert Prunty as head football coach


Robert Prunty, East Carolina’s defensive coordinator this past season, has been hired as Hampton University’s 21st head football coach. He will be officially introduced at a 1 p.m. press conference Friday.

Prunty, a native of Chatham, spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach on the FBS level. He began last fall as East Carolina’s associate head coach and defensive line coach. After the second game, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

From 2013-16, Prunty was on the staff at Cincinnati, where he was co-defensive coordinator his last three years. Prior to that, he spent three seasons as the defensive ends coach at Texas Tech.

Scout.com recognized Prunty as his conference’s Recruiter of the Year four times — twice at Cincinnati and twice at Texas Tech.

“Coach Prunty’s record of consistent, sustained, outstanding performance will take our football program to the next level,” Hampton President William R. Harvey said in a statement. “I enthusiastically welcome him to Hampton Nation.”

Prunty’s hire comes at a significant point in the program’s history. Three weeks ago, Hampton announced it will leave the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association for the Big South in July. However, football might not be able to make the jump until the 2019 season.

This will be Prunty’s first head coaching job on the college level.

“I would like to thank President Dr. William R. Harvey and Athletic Director Eugene Marshall Jr. for this opportunity,” Prunty said in a statement. “I will give all that I have to make this program successful for our university, alumni, fans, and our community.

“There is plenty of work to be done until we reach our goal. But we will all work tirelessly to get us there.”

Prunty, whose age was listed at 52 in ECU’s media guide, will be the Pirates’ fourth coach since 2007. He follows Connell Maynor, who resigned on Nov. 20 after his fourth season.

Michael Ketchum, HU’s defensive coordinator the last three seasons, has been the interim head coach since Maynor’s departure.

Prunty brings Virginia roots to HU. He was the head coach at Hargrave Military Academy in his hometown of Chatham from 2002-09. Before that, he was the head coach at Gretna High from 1993-2001.

The Hawks had lost 44 consecutive games before he took over. In his third season, they finished 7-3. He laid the foundation for Gretna to win four state championships from 2003-08.

Prunty is a 1988 graduate of Alabama A&M, where he received his degree in social work.

Alright...who should tell them...not it!

Dude helmed the Worst Defense in the Country last year and somehow gets a Head Coaching gig...

We only mustered 20 points against that defense too

(12-07-2017 05:07 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  http://www.dailypress.com/sports/hampton...story.html

Quote:Hampton University announces Robert Prunty as head football coach


Robert Prunty, East Carolina’s defensive coordinator this past season, has been hired as Hampton University’s 21st head football coach. He will be officially introduced at a 1 p.m. press conference Friday.

Prunty, a native of Chatham, spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach on the FBS level. He began last fall as East Carolina’s associate head coach and defensive line coach. After the second game, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

From 2013-16, Prunty was on the staff at Cincinnati, where he was co-defensive coordinator his last three years. Prior to that, he spent three seasons as the defensive ends coach at Texas Tech.

Scout.com recognized Prunty as his conference’s Recruiter of the Year four times — twice at Cincinnati and twice at Texas Tech.

“Coach Prunty’s record of consistent, sustained, outstanding performance will take our football program to the next level,” Hampton President William R. Harvey said in a statement. “I enthusiastically welcome him to Hampton Nation.”

Prunty’s hire comes at a significant point in the program’s history. Three weeks ago, Hampton announced it will leave the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association for the Big South in July. However, football might not be able to make the jump until the 2019 season.

This will be Prunty’s first head coaching job on the college level.

“I would like to thank President Dr. William R. Harvey and Athletic Director Eugene Marshall Jr. for this opportunity,” Prunty said in a statement. “I will give all that I have to make this program successful for our university, alumni, fans, and our community.

“There is plenty of work to be done until we reach our goal. But we will all work tirelessly to get us there.”

Prunty, whose age was listed at 52 in ECU’s media guide, will be the Pirates’ fourth coach since 2007. He follows Connell Maynor, who resigned on Nov. 20 after his fourth season.

Michael Ketchum, HU’s defensive coordinator the last three seasons, has been the interim head coach since Maynor’s departure.

Prunty brings Virginia roots to HU. He was the head coach at Hargrave Military Academy in his hometown of Chatham from 2002-09. Before that, he was the head coach at Gretna High from 1993-2001.

The Hawks had lost 44 consecutive games before he took over. In his third season, they finished 7-3. He laid the foundation for Gretna to win four state championships from 2003-08.

Prunty is a 1988 graduate of Alabama A&M, where he received his degree in social work.

Alright...who should tell them...not it!

Dude helmed the Worst Defense in the Country last year and somehow gets a Head Coaching gig...

Listen, I'm very happy for Robert Prunty. He is a good man, a good recruiter and he is going back to his home state. I wish him nothing but success. Hampton University, formerly Hampton Institute, is one of the nation's most noteworthy HBCU's. I hope he leaves a lasting and positive mark for the young men he will be coaching and for the fine university he will be representing.

Prunty's strength is talent acquisition and development. He'll do well. why they're leaving the MEAC is kinda weird though

As others have noted. Prunty is a good man. I wish him well at Hampton.

Prunty is a good guy and a class act. Congratulations. Hope he does well.

(12-07-2017 06:38 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Coach Prunty grew up in a Virginia city near where I live in North Carolina. He politely answered an email I sent him when he first came with The Walking Dead Coach. Great guy and I'm happy for him. It's Hampton University so he can handle the job IMO. Best of luck to him and his family.

Always seemed like a good guy.

(12-07-2017 07:01 PM)blackcattitude Wrote:  Prunty's strength is talent acquisition and development. He'll do well. why they're leaving the MEAC is kinda weird though

I'd say 'yes' to the talent acquisition part. Not so much on the development side from what I've seen.

I'm with the majority here.

Congratulations, Coach Prunty. Good luck at Hampton.

TO clarify, I'm happy for the man, but confused by the move.

In the multiple interactions I had with him at conventions through the past about half decade, he was always very open with how much he cared for his players and how passionate he was about the sport. I think those two things will do extremely well in the role he will be in, and was something more of our previous staff needed.