Hargrave Military Academy witnessed a changing of the guard yesterday as Coach Robert Prunty, its long serving Head Post-Graduate Football Coach, accepted a position as a Defensive Line Coach with Texas Tech of Lubbock, Texas. Due to the recruiting season at Texas Tech, Coach Prunty steps down from his post effective Friday, January 27, 2010. He is expected to make immediate contributions to their program. The Texas Tech offer for Coach Prunty was reported to be ‘to good to refuse.’
Coach Troy Davis, an outgoing personality with a strong focus on Cadet success both on and off the field, is Coach Prunty’s natural replacement. Hired in May 2006, Coach Davis was Coach Prunty’s right hand man and all-around leader for the past three years. Coach Davis will replace Coach Prunty at the helm of Hargrave’s Post-Graduate Football program on Friday.
“It is a bittersweet time for us. Coach Prunty has done a tremendous job for Hargrave, and many college programs know this. Texas Tech is a great opportunity for him, and we wish him the best,” said Dr. Wheeler Baker, Col. USMC (ret.). “Coach Davis has shown both personal initiative and strong leadership within our Post-Graduate Football program. He knows the challenges of running a successful program at Hargrave, and the need to keep these athletes focused on their academics. I have no doubt that his first year will be a successful year.”
Coach Davis has held the positions of Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator and Admissions Counselor in his three years at Hargrave. In 2007/2008, he served as a Defensive Coordinator for the East Team in the U.S. Army All American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. It was the same game where Coach Prunty was the Head Coach for the East Team. They won in a 33-23 victory over the West Team.
“It’s about the Cadets coming to a positive community that has a great faculty and staff that works with the kids to get them to reach their full potential,” said Coach Davis. “I look forward to the opportunity of working with the Cadets at their level and having a positive influence on their future as their Head Coach.”
Coach Davis, who was already directly involved in Hargrave’s Post-Graduate Football recruiting season, will have an opportunity to build the Post-Graduate Football team for the 2010 Fall season.
“It’s not how you start. It is how you finish. That will be applied to the program,” said Davis.
Coach Davis has both high school and collegiate level coaching experience, which is extremely valuable for the Hargrave program. At Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania, he held a number of positions including Defense Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach and Linebacker Coach. Prior to joining Hargrave, he was the Head Football Coach at Cape Coral High School in Florida. Cape Coral was a 6A school at that time. At Cardinal Gibbons High School in North Carolina, he was their Head Varsity Football Coach. He also served as the Assistant Varsity Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Henry Snyder High School in New Jersey.
As a player, Coach Davis was a linebacker for the New York Giants, Hamilton Tiger Cats (Canada), Toronto Argro’s (Canada) and the Pocono’s Mountaineers/Wilks Barre Stallions.
“I have the utmost respect for Coach Prunty. He has done and outstanding job during his years here,” said Coach Davis. “He has been a fantastic coach to work with and a Hargrave alumnus (Class of 1983) that will be truly missed.”
