After a disastrous season and a contentious coaching search, Jeremy Pruitt has been picked to lead the Vols back to national prominence.
His resume is strong.
Welcome to Rocky Top, Coach Pruitt! 🍊🏈
STORY » https://t.co/umAqTlyJ8D pic.twitter.com/tTDYmtBtXr
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 7, 2017Pruitt has been the defensive coordinator for Alabama for two seasons. Before that, he was defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Georgia for a season and was defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Florida State in 2013 during an undefeated season and a national championship.
Before his most recent stint, Pruitt was on Alabama's staff for six seasons, coaching the Tide defensive backs from 2010-12.
He's been part of four national championship football teams--- three at Alabama (2009, 2011, 2012) and one at Florida State.
Growing up, Pruitt's life was about faith and football.
"My dad is a football coach and my grandfather was a Baptist preacher," he said once.
Pruitt grew up in Alabama, wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. He played football for his dad, then served as his assistant coach at two schools.
"It’s really special to not only just to spend time with your father, but to share the same love the same profession. He still does it today. I’ve said this many times before, he stays on me a little bit ‘cause now obviously he coaches my son. He says I’m the worst parent he’s ever had," he said.
During his last season as defensive coordinator at Hoover High School, he was part of a reality show called Two-A-Days in the mid-2000's that aired on MTV. That's where the world learned that Pruitt had never heard of asparagus.
He played football in college, too. First at MTSU, where he played safety and cornerback for the Blue Raiders. He then transferred to Alabama.
Now, he'll be the 26th head coach at the University of Tennessee.
"Six days ago, I mentioned several attributes that I sought to find in the next leader of our football program, and Coach Pruitt meets all criteria" UT Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer said. "I'm certain he appreciates the unique opportunity to lead a program of Tennessee's caliber. He's driven to win at the highest level. He will honor our university's values, operate with integrity and be a role model for our student-athletes.