Hometown: Chatham, Va.
Education: B.S., Alabama A&M, 1988
Coaching: Head Coach, Gretna High (Va.), 1993-01
Head Coach, Hargrave Military Academy (Va.), 2002-09
Assistant, Texas Tech, 2010-12
Assistant, Cincinnati, 2013-16 Assistant,
Assistant, East Carolina, 2017
Head Coach, Hampton, 2018-present
A veteran coach with more than 30 years of experience as a player and coach, Robert Prunty was named the 21st head football coach in Hampton history on Dec. 8, 2017.
Prunty has earned Conference Recruiter of the Year recognition four times at two FBS programs. Prunty was named Scout.com's Midlands Recruiter of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and Big 12 Recruiter of the Year under coach Tommy Tuberville at Texas Tech.
Prunty’s coaching responsibilities include outside linebackers and defensive ends from 2010-12.
In 2013, Prunty followed Tuberville to Cincinnati and served as associate head coach and defensive ends coach. The following year, he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the Bearcats.
Prunty began his coaching career at Gretna (Va.) High School before moving to Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy. Under Prunty's leadership, the prep school produced six first-round NFL draft picks
Prunty was named defensive line coach at East Carolina under head coach Scottie Montgomery and was promoted to defensive coordinator on Sept. 10, 2017.
He moved to Hampton for the 2018 season replacing Connell Maynor, who posted a 20-25 record in four seasons at the helm of the Pirates. Prunty's Pirates posted a 7-3 mark in his first year as Hampton transitioned from the MEAC to the Big South Conference. After a 5-7 mark in 2019, the 2020 season was canceled due to Covid. The Pirates were 5-6 in their final season in the Big South before logging a 4-7 overall record, 1-7 in the CAA, in their first season in the tougher league. The Pirates improved to 5-6 overall with a 3-5 record in conference play as the improvement continued.
The Prunty Profile
Head Coach, Hampton
2018 7-3 - Independent
2019 5-7 1-5 Big South
2920 Covid (season canceled)
2021 5-6 3-4 Big South
2022 4-7 1-7 CAA
2023 5-6 3-5 CAA
