Vols Assistants Confident Jeremy Pruitt Will Be a Successful Head Coach

Jeremy Pruitt has seen what it takes to win conference and national titles as an assistant coach, and Vols fans are eager to see Pruitt bring those same results to Rocky Top. Pruitt made his assistants available for interviews prior to the start of preseason practice, and they spoke about what they believe will make Pruitt successful in his first head coaching job at Tennessee.

Said offensive coordinator Tyson Helton:”Everybody talks about Coach Pruitt being a great defensive coach. He’s a great all-around coach. Just over the eight months we have had a chance to sit down and talk football about what’s important about offensive football. What we need to do. How we need to attack people. He brings a lot to the table in that area.”
Reporter:”Coach just because you are a great coordinator doesn’t always translate to being a great head coach. What have you seen from Jeremy Pruitt as he kind of establishes himself in his first year of being a head coach.”
Said co-defensive coordinator Chris Rumph:”Organization. Having a plan. Trusting the plan.”
Said defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer:”Football has always been a part of his life. His Dad being a long time high school coach in Alabama, and I think three of four years in Tennessee. So that’s just been what he does. His brother also coaches. That’s kind of who he is. What you see is what you get. He’s going to speak his mind. If you don’t want to know, then don’t ask.”
Said Helton:”I’m sure like in your guys profession too, when you talk to somebody, you go hey, that guy has got it. It’s that it factor. Coach has the it factor. Whether it’s coaching football or whether it’s mentoring football players or whether it’s out in the community talking to people. That’s what I saw with him, and I said hey, I’d love to be apart of his staff and learn from him.”