Jeremy Pruitt may lack head coaching experience, but he brings a deep reservoir of knowledge gained from working with some of college football’s greatest leaders, including Nick Saban, Mark Richt, and Jimbo Fisher.
Having won a national championship as an assistant at Florida State and coming close to two more at Alabama, Pruitt now faces the challenge of rebuilding Tennessee’s football program. Officially introduced as the Volunteers’ head coach on Thursday, his mission is clear: to restore the team to glory.
If Pruitt can integrate the work ethic and leadership he absorbed from Saban, the player-focused coaching style he witnessed under Richt, and the offensive insights he gleaned from Fisher, alongside his own defensive expertise, Tennessee could make strides faster than expected.
Still, fans should manage their expectations. A quick turnaround akin to Gus Malzahn’s debut at Auburn in 2013 or Kirby Smart’s rapid success at Georgia—winning the SEC and reaching the College Football Playoff within two years—is unlikely. Tennessee faces significant obstacles, such as a lack of SEC-caliber talent and the aftermath of a turbulent coaching search. 
Nevertheless, Tennessee’s choice of Pruitt, Alabama’s tenacious defensive coordinator, is a promising one. His coaching style is likely to appeal to recruits. One of his first major tasks will be hiring an offensive coordinator, preferably someone with strong recruiting abilities.
Potential candidates include Mike Friend, Colorado State’s offensive coordinator, who previously worked with Pruitt under Richt at Georgia and played with him at Alabama in the 1990s. Other options might include South Florida’s Sterlin Gilbert, Louisville’s Lonnie Galloway, or North Texas’ Graham Harrell, all of whom have led top-20 offenses.
Pruitt faces a steep uphill climb as Tennessee seeks to recover from a winless SEC season and recruiting setbacks. Strengthening his coaching staff by leveraging Alabama’s talent pool could be pivotal, much like Kirby Smart did when he brought Mel Tucker to Georgia.
Possible hires from Alabama’s staff might include co-offensive coordinator Michael Locksley, eager for the opportunity to lead an offense, or secondary coach Derrick Ansley, who has ties to Tennessee. While it’s a long shot, Pruitt could even consider pursuing Alabama’s renowned strength and conditioning coach, Scott Cochran.
The road ahead is undeniably challenging, but history offers hope. Two years after Georgia hired Smart during Alabama’s playoff run, he had the Bulldogs crowned SEC champions and competing in the College Football Playoff. Tennessee fans can only hope Pruitt can achieve a similar resurgence and bring the Volunteers back to prominence.