Former Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt lands near the top of a list he definitely doesn’t want to be on
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Former Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt may have hoped to put his tumultuous tenure in Knoxville behind him, but a recent ranking has once again brought his name into the spotlight—and not for the reasons any coach would want. A new list compiled by national college football analysts has named Pruitt among the worst head coaching hires in recent SEC history, placing him near the top of a list no one in the coaching profession wants to lead.
According to the article published this week by College Football News, Jeremy Pruitt is ranked as one of the most disappointing and damaging coaching hires of the past two decades in the Southeastern Conference. Analysts cited a combination of on-field struggles, off-field controversy, and long-term institutional consequences that continue to affect the Tennessee football program even years after his firing in January 2021.
A Promising Hire That Crumbled Quickly
When Pruitt was hired in December 2017, Tennessee fans were cautiously optimistic. The Alabama defensive coordinator was seen as a protégé of Nick Saban, bringing with him championship pedigree and a reputation for building elite defenses. Hired under then-Athletic Director John Currie and officially appointed by Phillip Fulmer, who soon took over the AD role, Pruitt was tasked with restoring a once-proud program that had struggled for consistency since the end of the Fulmer era.
Pruitt’s tenure began with flashes of hope—he led Tennessee to an 8–5 record in 2019, capped by a thrilling Gator Bowl comeback win over Indiana. But that brief success was overshadowed by inconsistency, lack of offensive identity, and troubling signs of disarray behind the scenes.
His final record at Tennessee stood at 16–19 over three seasons, with a dismal 10–16 mark in SEC play. But it wasn’t just the on-field mediocrity that sealed his fate—it was the bombshell internal investigation that revealed widespread recruiting violations under his watch.
Fallout from NCAA Sanctions
The investigation, launched in late 2020, revealed that Pruitt and members of his staff committed over 200 individual rules violations, many involving improper benefits to recruits and their families. These infractions were both numerous and brazen, with reports emerging that cash was handed out in fast food bags and hotel stays were improperly paid for by staffers.
The scandal ultimately led to Pruitt’s firing “for cause,” allowing Tennessee to avoid paying the nearly $13 million buyout he was owed. The NCAA levied harsh penalties on the program in 2023, including scholarship reductions and probation, although Tennessee avoided a bowl ban due to what the Committee on Infractions described as the university’s “exemplary cooperation” in the investigation.
For Pruitt, however, the damage was done. His reputation within the coaching community took a massive hit. Despite attempts to re-enter the profession—he briefly served as a senior defensive analyst for the New York Giants in the NFL—he has yet to land another high-profile coaching job at either the college or professional level.
A Cautionary Tale for Programs Nationwide
Pruitt’s inclusion near the top of the “worst coaching hires” list serves as a cautionary tale for programs desperate to win and quick to gamble on unproven head coaches based on their associations with elite programs. His time at Alabama and Georgia under Saban and Kirby Smart was supposed to prepare him for the top job—but leadership, organization, and integrity ultimately proved to be major deficiencies in his head coaching skillset.
Analysts argue that Pruitt’s tenure set Tennessee football back several years, forcing the university into a total rebuild under new leadership. Ironically, it’s under current head coach Josh Heupel, hired in 2021, that the Vols have found their footing again. Heupel’s up-tempo offense and clean program image have helped restore credibility and competitiveness on Rocky Top, leading to a resurgence that includes a 10-win season and the first New Year’s Six bowl win in over two decades.
Pruitt’s Legacy: Still Being Written?
Though Pruitt remains out of coaching, there are murmurs that he may one day return to the sidelines, potentially as a defensive coordinator or position coach if a program is willing to absorb the risk. However, given the black cloud that followed him out of Knoxville, it may be a long road back.
For now, Jeremy Pruitt remains a symbol of what can go wrong when a program prioritizes pedigree over character. His spot near the top of the “worst hires” list is an unwanted accolade—but one that many believe is well-earned.
As Tennessee continues to move forward, the shadows of the Pruitt era still linger. But with each passing season of success under new leadership, the wounds heal—and the Vols’ faithful can look back at the Pruitt years as a painful but necessary chapter in the journey back to prominence.
