Former Tennessee, Alabama coach Jeremy Pruitt is back home on the sideline coaching for Plainview
GLENCOE — Jeremy Pruitt is back on the sidelines of Alabama High School football, coaching under his father once again at Plainview.
Pruitt has been on the field since the beginning of the season for his alma mater and was once again there as Plainview beat Glencoe 35-7, in a game that was close until the final quarter when the Bears broke open a few runs Friday evening. Pruitt, and his wife, were hired by the school system back in July, and his children attend the school as well. Pruitt is happy to be back home, in a place that means so much to him.
"Well, it’s pretty unique opportunity. I got to coach with him 20 years ago and to have an opportunity to do that has been awesome. I get to work at the school where my school goes to school. A lot of these guys who play for us, I played with their dads, or coached their dads. It's good to help give back," Pruitt said.
"It's home to me, Rainsville is home to me, Plainview is home to me, it's been an awesome experience for my family. My kids love it there, they're Plainview bears through and through."
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Pruitt, whose career started at Plainview under his father Dale back in 1998, after a grad assistant stint at Alabama. He spent a year away before rejoining the Plainview staff and later Fort Payne, both under his dad. From there he went to Hoover, before returning to Alabama. He would take jobs at Florida State and Georgia before once again returning to the Crimson Tide.
In 2018, he took the head coach job at Tennessee. Jeremy Pruitt lasted three seasons before he was fired while embroiled in a recruiting investigation. For his part in the scandal he was hit with a six-year show clause. Pruitt spent a year with the New York Giants after leaving Tennessee.
Pruitt's father, Dale, has enjoyed having his son back on staff. His other son, Luke, is the head coach at Pisgah. He admits there's been a transition for Jeremy coming from high-level college football and NFL back to high school levels.
"I have enjoyed it, really have enjoyed it. It's been a real transition you don't coach in the NFL and come coach a 2A/3A football team, without going wow," Dale Pruitt said. "...I think he's enjoyed it, he's been a daddy. He's going to the same place his kids are."
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Jeremy Pruitt is back home coaching for Plainview football, his father
