How Tennessee's assistant coaches found out about Jeremy Pruitt's firing
Jeremy Pruitt wasn’t the one to inform his coaching staff that the school had parted ways with him, according to multiple reports.
The assistants learned of the news from an administrative assistant, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and Fox Sports. Meanwhile, Trey Wallace of Fox Sports Knoxville reported that some Tennessee staffers found out about the firing via social media.
The future of the coaching staff is unclear as Tennessee will reportedly name Kevin Steele the interim head coach of the football program, according to Football Scoop. The former Auburn defensive coordinator was hired last week.
Pruitt was fired after three seasons at Tennessee where he arrived as one of the best defensive coordinators in the country following stints at Alabama (2016-17, 2007-12), Georgia (2014-15), and Florida State (2013).
About four months ago, Tennessee gave Pruitt a contract extension that included a raise beginning this year and an increased buyout. He was under contract through Jan. 31, 2026.
Pruitt was 16-19 on Rocky Top, including a 3-7 mark in 2020 against a conference-only schedule.
Tennessee was picked to play in the Liberty Bowl this year but did not make it due to COVID issues within the program. Tennessee’s lone bowl appearance during the Pruitt era was a Gator Bowl win over Indiana at the end of the 2019 season.
So……we fired a DC as head coach and inserted a DC as interim?
Only UT would give a guy an extension for going 16-19.
Hire Jeff Fisher. Freeze has too many skeletons in his closet.
please no washed up jeff fisher.
In St Louis every year we celebrate July 9th as Jeff Fisher day because his Ram’s teams were almost always 7-9
You mean they didn’t get the hint when Steele was hired?
Hiring Steele was definitely the sign that Pruitt’s time on Rocky Top was ending. Pruitt had a real problem communicating with people & if you can’t communicate=you will not be a good head coach. In any business communication is the key to success & Jeremy did not have that ability. Now it’s upward & onward for the Vol program. the SEC East needs a competitive Tennessee football program.
Do you think O’Brien’s hiring is foreshadowing that he might the next HC in waiting?
Not at all.
If that is true and neither Pruitt nor Fulmer had the testicles to at least tell the staff to their faces, then that is just plain unsat. Please let us find a decent SEC level coach.
Not sure they would have been given a chance to. When I fire people they don’t even get to pack up their own office/desk, a box meets them at the door. I doubt the university lets you call a meeting after you’ve been fired.
the ride just won’t stop. the brass at tn….incl fulmer felt it was appropriate for the assist coaches and staff to hear the news from a lowly admin assist….or worse…the media?
tn fans, unfortunately, your admin is still broken. letting go of pruitt won’t solve all of your problems