Tennessee Vols: Jeremy Pruitt worked a "long time" to bring Jim Chaney and Tee Martin back to UT
Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt pleased a lot of fans this month by bringing Jim Chaney and Tee Martin back to Rocky Top. The hiring of Chaney ended a lengthy search for an offensive coordinator that included flirtations with Hugh Freeze, Kendal Briles and Mike Yurcich. Because of those flirtations, it could be assumed […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt pleased a lot of fans this month by bringing Jim Chaney and Tee Martin back to Rocky Top.
The hiring of Chaney ended a lengthy search for an offensive coordinator that included flirtations with Hugh Freeze, Kendal Briles and Mike Yurcich. Because of those flirtations, it could be assumed that Chaney, despite his success with the Georgia Bulldogs the last few seasons, was a secondary choice for Pruitt.
But that assumption would be very wrong.
During an appearance on WMNL's "The Nation" earlier this week, Pruitt told the hosts "You know, I worked on both of these guys (Chaney and Martin) for a long time, trying to get them to come to Tennessee".
Pruitt went on to say that he believes Chaney is a "really good evaluator of talent", adding "he understands what it takes to have success at Tennessee".
For now, it's unclear what positions Chaney and Martin will coach at UT. But the general assumption is that Chaney will coach quarterbacks and Martin will coach wide receivers (which would require some staff shuffling, which I detailed some possibilities here).
Pruitt, by the way, mentioned Chaney's track record with quarterbacks, saying "He’s done a really good job with quarterbacks over the years". That would seem to indicate that Pruitt sees Chaney as the Vols' quarterbacks coach next season.
As for adding Martin to the staff, that was a no brainer for Pruitt the moment the former Vol was available. Martin is a beloved figure in East Tennessee. He's had success as an offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. And he's one of the best recruiters on the planet. If Pruitt wouldn't have brought Martin to Knoxville, there's a good chance he'd be on an opposing SEC sideline in 2019.
Tennessee's staff, despite a couple of departures, got a lot better this off-season. And it's all because Pruitt was able to identify who he wanted and then went and made the hires happen.
It might have taken Pruitt a "long time" to get his guys, but in the end he got them. And that's all that matters.
Featured image via Randy Sartin/USA Today
