Jeremy Pruitt

Jeremy Pruitt (born May 28, 1974) is an American football coach. He most recently served as the head coach at the University of Tennessee from 2018 to 2020. He also previously served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Alabama from 2016 to 2017, University of Georgia from 2014 to 2015, and Florida State University in 2013. As a defensive coordinator, Pruitt's defenses frequently ranked in the top ten nationally in total defense and related categories. Pruitt worked for Alabama as Director of Player Development (2007–2009) before becoming the Crimson Tide's defensive backs coach in 2010. Prior to joining the college ranks, he served as an assistant coach at the high school level. Pruitt was a 2013 finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top college football assistant coach, and was again a finalist in 2016. He played college football at Middle Tennessee and Alabama.[1][2]

Jeremy Pruitt
Pruitt in 2018
Biographical details
Born (1974-05-28) May 28, 1974
Rainsville, Alabama
Playing career
1993–1994Middle Tennessee
1995–1996Alabama
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1997Alabama (GA)
1998Plainview HS (DB)
1999West Alabama (DB)
2000Plainview HS (DC)
2001–2003Fort Payne HS (assistant)
2004Hoover HS (DB)
2005–2006Hoover HS (DC/DB)
2007–2009Alabama (DPD)
2010–2012Alabama (DB)
2013Florida State (DC/DB)
2014–2015Georgia (DC/DB)
2016–2017Alabama (DC/ILB)
2018–2020Tennessee
Head coaching record
Overall16–19
Bowls1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As an Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator:

Pruitt appeared on the TV series Two-A-Days in 2006 while an assistant coach at Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama.[3]

Early life and playing career

Pruitt was born in Rainsville, Alabama, the son of Dale and Melissa Pruitt. His father is a long-time high school head coach, with stints at Pisgah (1982–1983), Plainview (1984–2000, 2006–2014), Ft. Payne (2001–2003), Marion County (Tenn.) (2004–2005, 2020–present), Albertville (2015–2019), and Dade County (2019).[4] Jeremy played for his father at Plainview, where he was named all-state in 1991 and 1992, and helped the team achieve a 48–8 record.[5]

Pruitt began his college football career at Middle Tennessee State under Hall of Fame head coach Boots Donnelly.[6] He was recruited as a quarterback, but switched to defensive back during his freshman season.[7] After his sophomore year, he transferred to the University of Alabama, where he played under coach Gene Stallings. He saw action in nine games during his junior season as a member of the 1995 Alabama squad, and seven games during his senior season as a member of the Outback Bowl-winning 1996 squad.[8] As a player, Pruitt helped mentor All-American teammate Kevin Jackson in defensive coordinator Bill Oliver's complex schemes.[7]

Assistant coaching career

Pruitt began coaching as a student assistant on the 1997 Alabama team, where he worked primarily under defensive backs coach Curley Hallman.[9] He then worked as an assistant coach under his father at Plainview High School (1998 and 2000) and Fort Payne (2001–2003).[10] He coached defensive backs in 1999 at West Alabama, where he earned his degree.[11] He served as an assistant coach under Rush Propst at Hoover High School from 2004 to 2006, winning state championships in 2004 and 2005.[8] While at Hoover, he appeared on the first season of the MTV reality television show, Two-A-Days, which aired in the fall of 2006 and focused on the lives of students at Hoover.[12]

In 2007, Pruitt joined the Alabama coaching staff as Director of Player Development.[13] Following Alabama's 2009 national championship season, Pruitt was named the Tide's defensive backs coach.[14] During his first season in 2010, Alabama's secondary led the SEC in passing efficiency, and included one All-American, Mark Barron. The 2011 Alabama secondary led the nation in pass defense and passing efficiency, and included three All-Americans, Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, and DeQuan Menzie. Both Barron and Kirkpatrick were drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Pruitt's 2012 secondary ranked seventh nationally in pass defense, and included Jim Thorpe finalist Dee Milliner.[15] He was named National Recruiter of the Year in 2012 by 247Sports.[15]

In 2013, Pruitt was hired as the defensive coordinator at Florida State. In his lone season with the Seminoles, his defense ranked number one in scoring defense, allowing just 12.1 points per game, and ranked third in total defense, helping the 2013 Seminoles win the national championship.[8]

In 2014, Pruitt joined the Georgia coaching staff as the defensive coordinator. His 2014 defensive unit finished 17th nationally in total defense, and finished in the top ten in turnover margin and passing yards allowed. Pruitt's 2015 unit at Georgia finished the season ranked seventh nationally in total defense, and led the nation in fewest passing yards allowed per game.[8]

Pruitt returned to Alabama as defensive coordinator in 2016, replacing Kirby Smart, who had left to become the head coach at Georgia. His 2016 defensive unit led the nation in scoring defense and rushing defense, and was ranked second in total defense.[8] His 2017 Alabama defensive unit finished the regular season ranked second in total defense and first in scoring defense.[16] The unit was part of the team that won the National Championship in the 2017 season.[17]

Tennessee

2018 season
See also: 2018 Tennessee Volunteers football team

In December 2017, Pruitt was hired as the head coach at the University of Tennessee, capping a tumultuous coaching search that followed the firing of head coach Butch Jones, and led to the replacement of athletic director John Currie by Hall of Fame coach Phillip Fulmer.[18] On September 1, 2018, he made his Tennessee head coaching debut in the Belk College Kickoff against the #17 West Virginia Mountaineers. The Volunteers lost by a score of 40–14.[19] The next week, against ETSU, Pruitt won his first game as head coach. The Vols defeated the Buccaneers by a score of 59–3 in Pruitt's Neyland Stadium debut.[20] On October 13, 2018, against #21 Auburn, Pruitt coached the Volunteers to their first victory over a SEC West team since 2010.[21] On November 10, he helped lead the Volunteers to a 24–7 victory over the #12 Kentucky Wildcats.[22] Overall, in his first season as the Volunteers' head coach, Pruitt finished with a 5–7 overall record, 2–6 record in SEC play.[23]

2019 season
See also: 2019 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Tennessee added the #13 overall recruiting class for the 2019 cycle according to 247sports.com.[24] The Volunteers opened the season with a loss to Georgia State University and BYU.[25][26] They earned their first win of the season against in-state opponent University of Tennessee at Chattanooga by a score of 45–0, which was the second shut out under Pruitt.[27] The Volunteers earned their second win of the season against SEC opponent Mississippi State Bulldogs by a score of 20–10, giving the Volunteers their first SEC win for the 2019 season.[28] After a 2–5 start to the season, Pruitt helped lead the Volunteers to a five-game winning streak to end the season at 7–5 and earn bowl eligibility.[29] In the 2020 Gator Bowl against Indiana, Pruitt earned his first bowl victory as head coach of Tennessee with a 23–22 comeback victory.[30]

2020 season
See also: 2020 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Though the Volunteers entered the 2020 season ranked No. 16 in the preseason rankings, they finished 3–7, including a home loss to Kentucky for the first time in 36 years. After the 2020 season, on January 18, 2021, Pruitt was fired after an internal investigation found evidence of recruiting violations.[31] Nine other coaches and staff were also fired.[32]

Personal life

Pruitt has three sons, Jayse, Ridge, and Flynt, and is married to the former Casey East.[8]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (2018–present)
2018 Tennessee 5–72–67th (East)
2019 Tennessee 8–55–33rd (East)W Gator
2020 Tennessee 3–73–75th (East)
Tennessee: 16–1910–16
Total:16–19

References
  1. Kausler Jr., Don. "It's official: Alabama assistant Jeremy Pruitt is Florida State's new defensive coordinator". AL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  2. "Jeremy Pruitt Named Tennessee's Head Football Coach". University of Tennessee. December 7, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  3. Kausler Jr., Don. "Outspoken, persistent, intense: That's Nick Saban's newest assistant coach, Jeremy Pruitt". AL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  4. "Alabama High School Football Coaches - Dale Pruitt". AHSFHS.org. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  5. Bowers, Rachel. "10 things to know about Jeremy Pruitt". OnlineAthens. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  6. "Transfer talk: Pruitt recalls his own playing career". GoVols247. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  7. Goodbread, Chase. "Pruitt excited to be back home". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  8. "Jeremy Pruitt". University of Alabama Official Athletics Site. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  9. Goodbread, Chase (February 22, 2010). "Pruitt excited to be back home". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  10. Tannebaum, Taylor (December 9, 2017). "Jeremy Pruitt follows father's footsteps into head coaching ranks". WHNT.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  11. Toppmeyer, Blake. "What a Jeremy Pruitt staff with roots in South might mean for Tennessee Vols recruiting". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  12. Casagrande, Michael. "How Jeremy Pruitt went from Rush Propst's doorstep to million-dollar SEC coordinator". AL.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  13. Griffith, Mike (December 31, 2017). "Nick Saban shares rise of Jeremy Pruitt, from Alabama development to Tennessee coach". SEC Country. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  14. Toppmeyer, Blake (January 7, 2018). "Vols: Kevin Sherrer followed a lot of same steps as Jeremy Pruitt to Tennessee". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  15. Jeremy Pruitt, 2013 Florida State Football Media Guide, p. 62.
  16. "NCAA College Football FBS current team Stats - Total Defense". NCAA.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  17. "2017 Alabama Crimson Tide Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  18. Johnson, Richard (December 7, 2017). "All the twists and turns of Tennessee's legendary coach search". SBNation.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  19. Toppmeyer, Blake. "UT Vols football: Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee lose to WVU, 40-14". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  20. Fleser, Dan (September 8, 2018). "How UT Vols beat ETSU 59-3 in home opener". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  21. King, Nathan (October 13, 2018). "Guarantano leads Tennessee to upset of No. 21 Auburn, 30-24". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  22. "Kentucky at Tennessee Box Score, November 10, 2018". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  23. "2018 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  24. "Tennessee 2019 Football Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  25. "Georgia State at Tennessee Box Score, August 31, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  26. "Brigham Young at Tennessee Box Score, September 7, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  27. "Chattanooga at Tennessee Box Score, September 14, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  28. "Tennessee Secures First SEC Win over Mississippi State". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  29. "2019 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  30. Long, Mark (January 2, 2020). "Tennessee scores twice late to stun Indiana 23-22 in Gator Bowl". 13 WTHR Indianapolis. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  31. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2021/01/18/jeremy-pruitt-fired-tennessee-football-coaching-search-vols/6413502002/
  32. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/coach-priutt-and-nine-others-fired-over-alleged-ncaa-rules-violations-in-ut-football-program
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