Phillip Fulmer reportedly considered 16 coaches to replace Jeremy Pruitt, including 3 currently in SEC
By Keith Farner
Published:
Phillip Fulmer developed a fairly lengthy list of possible candidates to replace Jeremy Pruitt before Pruitt was fired in January 2021, he revealed in a rough draft email to UT Chancellor Donde Plowman.
Plowman asked about the football program amid allegations of infractions and his plan if Pruitt was fired, according to a report from Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel.
In the email titled “Football Appraisal,” Fulmer, the athletics director at the time and former legendary coach, argued that Pruitt should be retained as coach.
“I am not (at) all advocating a change in football and hope we do not get there with pending issues,” Fulmer wrote. “I do believe we can overcome our challenges, and I have seen signs of progress.”
Former UT quarterback Tee Martin, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze, Florida coach Billy Napier and South Carolina coach Shane Beamer were on his list of 16 potential candidates. Cal coach Justin Wilcox, a former Tennessee defensive coordinator, made the list. Former Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who is now in the same role with the New England Patriots, was also considered.
Others were former Austin Peay and Charlotte coach Will Healy; Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell; Iowa State coach Matt Campbell; Army coach Jeff Monken; Utah State coach Blake Anderson (then at Arkansas State); Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell (then at Coastal Carolina); Virginia coach Tony Elliot (then Clemson offensive coordinator); Duke coach Mike Elko (then Texas A&M defensive coordinator); Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady (then Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator).
And so was an unknown coach named Alex French.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
