Former Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt hasn’t coached at the collegiate level since he was fired by UT following the 2020 season.

Pruitt received a six year show cause ban in 2023 for the recruiting scandal that cost him his job at Tennessee.

The former Alabama defensive coordinator, however, is trying to get back in college football as a coach (Pruitt has spent the last couple of years coaching high school football in Alabama).

Late last month, 247Sports’ Mike Rodak reported that Jacksonville State had been cleared to hire Pruitt as an analyst.

The Jacksonville State job, though, appears to be a fallback option for Pruitt (that ruling doesn’t apply to other programs that may be interested in hiring Pruitt).

Jeremy Pruitt is trying to get the NCAA to give him “immediate relief” so he can return to coaching in college football

According to AL.com, Pruitt has asked a court to “expedite his hearing in a complaint against the NCAA that could allow him to coach again”.

AL.com noted that Pruitt filed the motion on Wednesday (November 12).

“Colleges are in the midst of hiring season, and immediate relief is paramount for Pruitt to have any chance of being hired after five years of being barred from college football,” wrote Pruitt’s representation in the filing (via AL.com). “Upon information and belief, several institutions are interested in hiring (Pruitt) and will hire (Pruitt) as soon as the ‘Show Cause’ Order is enjoined.”

Pruitt spent one season as a defensive assistant with the New York Giants after getting fired by Tennessee. If Pruitt is fully cleared to return to college, he’ll quickly be one of the most in-demand defensive coordinators on the market.

Tennessee Volunteers News

‘That’s my feeling as of today’ – Vols insider gives his thoughts on Josh Heupel’s name popping up in LSU coaching rumors

Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel’s name has popped up in some coaching rumors this month.

Zach Ragan