Jeremy Pruitt explains why he wasn’t in a hurry to hire a new offensive coordinator for Tennessee
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Much like Tennessee’s search for a new head coach last offseason, the Vols’ search for an offensive coordinator this offseason seemed to drag on for quite some time.
The team eventually settled on Georgia OC Jim Chaney, though, and coach Jeremy Pruitt and many fans couldn’t be happier.
During a radio appearance on Wednesday, Pruitt said it was more important to get the right guy than it was to find someone quickly:
“Well, there’s no need to rush. Spring ball doesn’t start until March, you want to make sure you get it right,” Pruitt said to Jimmy Hyams of Knoxville-based WNML program Sports Talk. “There’s lots of really good coaches out there. Some guys were coaching in bowls, some guys were coaching in the NFL. To do your due diligence and make sure you get the right guy, sometimes it takes time. Plus you got recruiting, the early signing period has changed the process of that when it comes to, you know, hiring coaches. I think last year, 79 percent of the guys that signed in the SEC signed in the early signing period so you have to make sure you spend your time recruiting.”
That’s a reasonable explanation, but if the Vols hadn’t gotten someone as accomplished as Chaney, the fanbase may not have been so accepting of the hire.
For now, though, fans are excited to see what Chaney can do with the Vols’ offense in 2019 and beyond.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
