Virginia Tech’s Former Defensive Guru Suddenly Elevated — What This Means for the Future of Football

There’s something almost poetic about second chances in the ever-passionate world of college football—especially when they come full circle. Take Chris Marve’s journey, for instance. Once a standout linebacker at Vanderbilt and a trusted disciple of Brent Pry, Marve’s rise to defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech was more than just a career move—it was a homecoming brimming with hope. Yet, the path wasn’t without its potholes. After a tough stint at the helm of Tech’s defense and a brief hiatus from coaching, fate, or perhaps football’s relentless rhythm, brought Marve back into the spotlight under Deion Sanders at Colorado. Now, as he steps up once again to call the defensive shots, it’s impossible not to feel the electric blend of redemption, challenge, and unfinished business that defines his story. And speaking of Pry, his own tale of ups and downs eerily mirrors Marve’s—proof that in this game, resilience is the real MVP.

LEARN MORE

When Virginia Tech hired Brent Pry to replace Justin Fuente as the Hokies’ head coach ahead of the 2022 season, he was proud to hire one of his former players, Chris Marve, to be his new defensive coordinator. The Virginia Tech job was special to Pry, having gone to high school nearby and serving three seasons as a graduate assistant under Frank Beamer in the 1990s.

Marve was a former three-time All-SEC linebacker at Vanderbilt and played his final season under new head coach James Franklin and Pry. Pry developed a close relationship with Marve, and when he landed his first head coaching job, he gave Marve his first defensive coordinator job.

It didn’t work out well. Marve struggled as Tech’s defensive coordinator with on-field performance, player development and recruiting, and was fired after the 2024 season. He spent last season out of coaching before Deion Sanders hired him as a linebackers coach for Colorado in December.

Marve’s stint as linebackers coach didn’t last long, as this week, Sanders promoted him to replace Robert Livingston, who departed Boulder to take a position with the Denver Broncos. Just like that, Marve was a defensive coordinator again.

So, in 2026, Marve will be a defensive coordinator again, just like Pry, who was fired as Virginia Tech’s head coach in September, only to be rehired as defensive coordinator a few months later when Franklin was named head coach.