Tech offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen worked closely with Rahne and Pry at Penn State, as well as Reihner. Even their equipment manager was our equipment manager at Penn State.' 'I'm also close with a lot of people on Virginia Tech's staff. 'I'm still very close with the players there,' he said. Kuntz finished second in the nation last year among tight ends with 73 receptions. So did standout tight end Zack Kuntz, who was at Penn State for three years before transferring to ODU. Graduate assistant Michael Shuster played at Penn State. Tight ends coach Justin Harper was a standout for the Hokies from 2004-2007.ĭefensive coordinator Blake Seiler and safeties coach Remington Rebstock coached at Kansas State when Franklin and Rahne worked there.ĭirector of Player Personnel Tristin Iannone came with Rahne from Penn State to ODU. Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning Aaron Rittgers came to ODU in late 2018 after interning at Penn State and is in his fourth season with the Monarchs. ODU special teams coordinator Kevin Smith, wide receivers coach Mark Dupuis and offensive coordinator Kevin Reihner all coached at Penn State with Pry and Rahne. There may not be two FBS programs that share more connections than ODU and Virginia Tech. The ties between the head coaches' wives are strong, but the ties between the two programs also run long and deep. There aren't many (opposing coaches' wives) I would invite to come see us on game day. 'That's why I asked her to come to the tailgate. 'If I were to describe her in one word, it would be loyal. But she loves Amy Pry. So, she called her and invited her.

Jen agreed that she was indeed competitive. Ricky came home and mentioned Brent Pry's comments. He said that while Jen is a wonderful person, she is also very competitive and likely wouldn't share her tailgate with a Hokie, not even her good friend Amy. When Brent Pry and Ricky Rahne appeared at a Norfolk Sports Club forum this summer, Pry said Amy and Jen will 'have a heck of a tailgate party.' The next day, the Penn Staters will tailgate with ODU's coaches' wives and families in a lot adjacent to the Webb Student Center. They will be at Ricky and Jen Rahne's house watching the Nittany Lions Thursday night – Ricky will be with his team. So Fumi Franklin, along with 22 other coaches wives and family members from Penn State, are indeed coming to Norfolk. I'm coming to that game.'Īs luck would have it, Penn State plays at Purdue on Thursday night. When they resumed texting, Fumi texted, 'Oh, I'm so there. Jen immediately realized the importance of the game, and the mixed feelings that would be involved, and texted 'I need to take a moment.' When Penn State's former defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator square off as head coaches, that's big news in State College, Pennsylvania.īecause both coaches hired liberally from Penn State, many on both staffs not only know each other, they are close friends. It will be Brent Pry's first game as a head coach and the game will attract a ton of national attention, and especially attention in Penn State Nation. The Hokies and Monarchs square off at S.B. Jen Rahne realized that was true, and not only do Tech and ODU play, they meet in the season opener. 'I was so happy for Brent and Amy,' Jen Rahne said.īut then it stopped when Amy Pry, texted, 'Oh my God, we play you!' The text messages started flying back and forth. James Franklin is, of course, Penn State's head coach and Brent Pry was his defensive coordinator.Īmy Pry got things going by texting that her husband would be named head coach at Virginia Tech.

Ricky Rahne had previously stepped down as Penn State's offensive coordinator to become head coach at Old Dominion and his Monarchs had just won their last five games to become bowl eligible. The group text began a day or so after Thanksgiving. They shared babysitters, vacationed together, helped each other when their kids got sick and did what the wives of college football coaches do everywhere – they bonded in order to make the long days and nights while their husbands were away doing their jobs more palpable.

They had spent nearly a decade as confidants and constant companions while their husbands coached football, first at Vanderbilt and then at Penn State. And you should know that 'close' doesn't adequately describe their devoted relationships.

– Jen Rahne was on a group text last November with her close friends, Amy Pry and Fumi Franklin.

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