Hampton names Prunty football coach

By AP
Published

(STATS) - Former East Carolina defensive coordinator Robert Prunty has been named Hampton's new coach and will lead the Pirates into its upcoming transition of conferences.

Prunty, a first-time head coach, was formally introduced at a news conference on campus Friday. He replaces Connell Maynor, who resigned Nov. 20 after four seasons and a 20-25 record.

Hampton announced last month it will move from the MEAC to the Big South in July. Due to scheduling, the football team may not make the move until the 2019 season.

Prunty, a 1988 graduate of Alabama A&M, has spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach at FBS programs. He was the Texas Tech defensive ends and outside linebackers coach from 2010-12 and spent the 2013-16 seasons at Cincinnati, including the final three as co-defensive coordinator. He started this season as East Carolina's associate head coach and defensive line coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator after two games.

"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."