Tennessee has finally found a head football coach and thus ends the most dramatic coaching search of 2017.
Jimmy Hyams of WNML in Knoxville reported the deal with former Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt was finalized Thursday morning.
A press conference introducing the 43-year-old Pruitt took place Thursday evening in Knoxville.
Georgia assistant coach Mel Tucker interviewed twice to fill the Vols’ vacancy created following the dismissal of Butch Jones after five seasons. Jones was 34-27 overall and 14-24 in SEC play in Knoxville.
Pruitt has served as the defensive coordinator at Florida State (2013), Georgia (2014-15) and Alabama for the past two seasons.
The Alabama native led the Bulldogs to a No. 1 national ranking in pass defense (146.1 ypg) and top 10 national finishes in red-zone defense (second, .645), total defense (eighth, 298.0) and scoring defense (10th, 16.9) in his final year in Athens.
He was considered a head coach candidate for openings at Central Florida and South Carolina in 2015.
Georgia outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer joined Pruitt in Knoxville as his defensive coordinator.
Never miss a minute of what's happening with the Georgia Bulldogs. Subscribe to myAJC
