Recruits: Indiana (Muncie / Fort Wayne), Florida, Georgia, Utah, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico 

Vernell Price completed his first season on the Valpo football coaching staff in 2022, serving as defensive tackles coach.

Price’s first season helping instruct the defensive line saw Valpo accrue 70 tackles for loss, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history. The 2022 defensive line featured an All-PFL Second Team honoree (Sam Hafner), an All-PFL Honorable Mention choice (Kevin Spelman), a member of the FCS National Freshman of the Year Watch List (Spelman) and two Academic All-PFL First Team performers (Hafner and Kurt Kessen).

The 2022 campaign also saw Valpo lead the PFL and rank sixth nationally in fourth-down defense, holding opponents to just 30 percent on fourth down. The program led the PFL and ranked eighth nationally in red-zone defense at .705. The team also ranked in the top five in the PFL in the following defensive categories – turnovers gained (16), sacks (2.25 per game, third), TFL (5.8 per game, fourth), rushing defense (151.5, fourth) and interceptions (10).

Price has previous experience in the Pioneer Football League as he spent the last year working with defensive backs and as a defensive analyst and defensive quality control coach at the University of San Diego. Prior to that, he served as the head coach and play caller for the Shanghai Sharks and Hangzhou Generals from 2016-2020. During his playing days, Price was a defensive lineman at the University of South Dakota from 2010-2012. He started his collegiate career at San Diego Mesa Community College from 2007-2009.