Upcoming Event: Football versus Tulane on September 5, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
Football
vs Tulane
Jim Pry To Replace Ben Bennett As Quarterbacks Coach At Duke
1/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke University head football coach Carl Franks announced the
hiring of quarterbacks coach Jim Pry on Tuesday. A veteran coach with over
20 years of college football experience, Pry replaces Ben Bennett, who has
accepted the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator's position with
the Florida Bobcats of the Arena Football League.
"Coach Pry brings a lot of experience that will benefit not only our quarterbacks but our entire offense," Franks said. "He had some other opportunities and we are fortunate that he has decided to join our staff. Coach Pry has been running our type of offensive system since 1985 when we were on the same staff at VMI. I think he will be a very good teacher for our young quarterbacks."
A native of Altoona, Pa., and a 1974 graduate of Marshall University, Pry has spent the past 11 seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University. He helped East Stroudsburg to a league title and NCAA Division II playoff berth in 1991 and enjoyed a record-setting season in 1996. In 1996, the Warrior offense led NCAA Division II in total offense and passing offense while setting 54 school, conference and national records.
Pry got his start in coaching at his alma mater, serving as a graduate assistant coach and head junior varsity coach in 1973-74. After stints as the offensive coordinator (1975) and defensive coordinator (1976) at West Virginia Tech, Pry was the head coach at Lewis County High School in Weston, W.Va., for four seasons (1977-80). He then moved on for a four-year stint as both the offensive coordinator (1981) and the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (1982-84) at West Liberty State (W.Va.) College.
As the offensive coordinator at VMI from 1985-88, Pry coached with Franks during the 1985 season. During Pry's tenure at VMI, the Keydet offense established 27 school records on offense. He then spent one year (1989) as the offensive coordinator at Buffalo before moving on to East Stroudsburg.
"I am certainly excited to go down there and help," Pry said. "I think Carl is a great coach and he is a great fit for Duke University. I've been a coordinator for 26 years and when you are a coordinator you've got a lot of different ideas. The (offensive) system is a multiple one with an element of surprise. The philosophy is to create havoc on a defense."
Bennett, who graduated from Duke in 1984 as the NCAA's all-time leading passer, returns to the Arena Football League where he served as the offensive coordinator for the Milwaukee Mustangs during the 1998 season. Bennett played 10 seasons in the AFL for five franchises including Chicago (1988-89), Dallas (1990), Orlando (1991-95), San Jose (1996) and Portland (1997). The 1988 AFL Most Valuable Player, Bennett ranks among the league's all-time leaders in passing yards (4th; 14,169 yards), touchdown passes (4th; 267 TDs) and pass completions (5th; 1,059 completions). He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in May of 2000.
"I have mixed emotions about this decision," Bennett said. "I've always loved Duke football and I am sad about leaving the 'family' that I have here. It will forever be a part of me. I firmly believe Carl Franks and his staff will lead Duke to the success it seeks. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to come home."
While at Duke, Bennett completed 820-of-1,375 passes for 9,614 yards and 55 touchdowns. The Sunnyvale, Calif., native was a two-time All-ACC selection and closed out his career in 1983 as the ACC Player of the Year and Associate Press third team All-America choice.
"There are two major considerations in my decision," Bennett continued. "The first is my daughter, Jordan. The Arena League schedule, while requiring a substantial commitment of time, provides me with more opportunities to see my daughter and be the father I would like to be to her. The second reason is that I want to again be a part of the Arena League's skyrocketing growth. This league is on the verge of huge things and I want to be one of the reasons they get there."
Ben has been a very loyal and valuable coach and friend," Franks said. "This is a great opportunity for him to return to the Arena League where he had so much success as a player. We will follow Ben's coaching career with great interest as he will always be a member of the Duke football family.
Wednesday, May 27
Tuesday, April 28
Friday, April 10
Friday, April 03
