Former Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt filed a lawsuit this week against the NCAA seeking $100 million over the fallout from his firing four years ago for recruiting violations.
The lawsuit filed on Wednesday in DeKalb County, Ala., claims that the NCAA conspired with the university to make him “the sacrificial lamb for conduct that long preceded his tenure at UT.”
Tennessee hired Pruitt in December 2017, replacing Butch Jones. Pruitt was fired for cause in January 2021 after going 16-19 in three seasons and did not receive any of his $12.6 million buyout.
In July 2023, Tennessee learned that all 11 wins from the 2019 and 2020 seasons had been vacated as part of the punishment for the alleged violations during Pruitt’s tenure.
The NCAA also issued a six-year show-cause penalty and one-year suspension against Pruitt, who has not coached in college football since. He is currently helping to coach at Alabama’s Plainview High School, his alma mater.
Pruitt’s lawsuit claims that Tennessee was paying players before he was hired. He said he informed then-athletic director Phillip Fulmer of the payments and Fulmer told Pruitt “he would handle it,” per the lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, Pruitt, 50, claims that he has suffered damages including lost wages, future lost wages, damage to his reputation, emotional distress and mental anguish.
Pruitt’s attorneys issued a statement to USA Today.
“We stand wholeheartedly behind Coach Pruitt’s claims as detailed in the complaint,” the statement read. “While we appreciate the public’s interest in this matter, we do not intend to try Coach Pruitt’s case in the media. Coach Pruitt’s claims deserve to be evaluated by an Alabama jury. We intend to give Jeremy the fair and impartial forum that the NCAA would not allow.”
The NCAA released a statement in response to the lawsuit.
“NCAA rules are proposed and adopted by member schools and penalties for violations are imposed by a committee of representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences as well as individuals from the public who have legal training,” the statement read. “In this case, the Committee on Infractions found violations and assigned penalties, both of which were affirmed by the Infractions Appeals Committee.”
Tennessee issued a statement saying it is “confident in the actions taken in the Pruitt case. We will continue to prioritize our student-athletes and winning with integrity.”
