Pruitt is a terrible hire and here is why

[TennesseeJet]

And you’re a terrible poster. How about pipe down until he gives you an actual reason to lose faith in his ability? That would be a better idea. The guy’s resume isn’t that bad.

It is not that good either. Poor hire.

 

[Roustabout]

I agree with the OP. Pruitt has been a journeyman and has never had to build anything. He's always had exceptional talent. This team does not.

Does that mean he won't succeed? Of course not, but I want to see how this guy reacts once he's had time to evaluate his roster, and after he plays a few games. This is going to be tougher than he thinks.

Pruitt has benefitted from a bungled coaching search. Let's face it, Phil went to Fuente and Patterson and neither wanted anything to do with it.
At best, he's the 6th or 7th choice if you include Mullen, Brohm, and Cut. Granted, getting a sitting head coach is harder than it seems.

He'll get my support, but i could give two ****s about a press conference.

 

[ClearwaterVol]

I know battered vol syndrome is a real thing and people here just want to feel positive about whatever they get at this point, but I don't feel that we've benefitted in any way by ignoring logic and facts over the years, so I figured I would point out why other schools weren't interested in Pruitt and why it won't work out here.

Let's tackle the "virtues" posters will reiterate ad nauseam:

1. "He's a great recruiter!"

Well, he has traditionally been at schools that have great recruiting. Has he really been the impetus behind it, or just part of a team?

Also, weren't we told the exact same about Dooley? Didn't Dooley come from a similar recruiting background?

Also, does it really matter so much that your head coach was a great recruiter as an assistant? If that were the case, wouldn't other Power 5 schools immediately go for the best recruiting assistants for their head jobs? Or are we just smarter than the rest of them? Does anyone actually believe that?

Haven't we gone down this road again and again? How many top recruits have we singed over the years that weren't properly developed or utilized? Haven't we learned, at this point, that a coach is much more valuable than a recruiter?

2. "He's just like Kirby Smart!"

Actually, looking at the differences between the two resumes is enlightening. Smart was Saban's defensive coordinator for 8 years. Pruitt has only been a defensive coordinator for 5 years total. He has only been Saban's coordinator for 2 years. So, we are certainly looking at less experience.

In fact, one looks at Pruitt's time as a coordinator, and the fact that he has never been at a school for more than 2 years, and you realize that he has very little experience developing personnel. This is a guy you want to rebuild with? By contrast, Kirby Smart was Saban's top assistant as he built the Alabama dynasty. That's far different than being a hired gun that is inserted into already established staffs and programs.

Do you really believe that every Alabama defensive coordinator will make an effective head coach just because Smart has done well this year? That doesn't seem like a good bet. We've seen plenty of successful coordinators fail over the years, guys with more consistent resumes and longer periods of production.

3. "He's a great defensive mind!"

Is he? He has had very good defenses. He's also always had a talent advantage.

The thing I don't understand about Tennessee is that, while the administrations' mouthpieces in the local media keep telling us how hard it is to recruit and win here against the likes of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, etc…we never really try to hire a coach with a history of getting more out of less. Pruitt definitely continues that trend.

If you believe that he will be able to out-recruit the rest of the SEC, then I guess there is cause for hope. But hasn't that been what we've pinned our hopes on in coach after coach? Why would we think the result will be different this time?

One of the best measures of a coach is what they do in the big games and against teams of similar talent. Since Pruitt has never been the head guy, we have to go by his coordinator experience. In his biggest games (his two national championship appearances) Pruitt's defense has given up an average of 33 points (by contrast, Kirby Smart's defenses never allowed more than 21 points in the national championship game, and averaged 11.7 points allowed per NC game). That's not really the work of a defensive mastermind, especially considering the incredible talent he had at his disposal.

4. "We couldn't get anyone else!"

Well, that may be true. If so, though, that is due to the administration not the fans or the program. Accepting that result and supporting that administration does nothing to improve the state of the program. Haven't we learned anything at this point? Isn't "getting behind the new coach" and having patience the exact reason Dooley and Jones got big extensions, resulting in ridiculous buyouts?

If you truly couldn't get anyone who had a decent chance of winning here due to our administrative mess, wouldn't it be wiser to install an interim until we fixed the mess? Committing longterm to a weak hire simply doesn't make sense for anyone, save those hoping to continue bilking the fans while selling false hope. Sure, an interim would probably kill the recruiting class. But is it better to waste 1 year or 3-4 years?

5. "We got to give him a chance! He hasn't coached a game yet!"

Yes, we're back to that familiar point where the unknowable future is our new coach's best quality. Of course, no one can say for certain that Pruitt will fail, but given that there is so little evidence that he will succeed, it's a sucker's bet to think he'll ever be anything more than average here.

You haven't given a single reason why he's a "terrible hire." What you have done is find reasons why he's not a sure thing. Big difference, huge.

 

[JCP201]

With the staff he's bringing, this is one of the best hires in the country. You can go find another team, in three years we are playing for championships.

 

[Pride85]

Good points. You also left off that he is from Alabama and is not showing up for work for a month.

Not exactly. He is full time UT until the dead period where he can't recruit anyway. He is working on staff and recruiting right now.

 

[gemlek]

I know battered vol syndrome is a real thing and people here just want to feel positive about whatever they get at this point, but I don't feel that we've benefitted in any way by ignoring logic and facts over the years, so I figured I would point out why other schools weren't interested in Pruitt and why it won't work out here.

Let's tackle the "virtues" posters will reiterate ad nauseam:

1. "He's a great recruiter!"

Well, he has traditionally been at schools that have great recruiting. Has he really been the impetus behind it, or just part of a team?

Also, weren't we told the exact same about Dooley? Didn't Dooley come from a similar recruiting background?

Also, does it really matter so much that your head coach was a great recruiter as an assistant? If that were the case, wouldn't other Power 5 schools immediately go for the best recruiting assistants for their head jobs? Or are we just smarter than the rest of them? Does anyone actually believe that?

Haven't we gone down this road again and again? How many top recruits have we singed over the years that weren't properly developed or utilized? Haven't we learned, at this point, that a coach is much more valuable than a recruiter?

2. "He's just like Kirby Smart!"

Actually, looking at the differences between the two resumes is enlightening. Smart was Saban's defensive coordinator for 8 years. Pruitt has only been a defensive coordinator for 5 years total. He has only been Saban's coordinator for 2 years. So, we are certainly looking at less experience.

In fact, one looks at Pruitt's time as a coordinator, and the fact that he has never been at a school for more than 2 years, and you realize that he has very little experience developing personnel. This is a guy you want to rebuild with? By contrast, Kirby Smart was Saban's top assistant as he built the Alabama dynasty. That's far different than being a hired gun that is inserted into already established staffs and programs.

Do you really believe that every Alabama defensive coordinator will make an effective head coach just because Smart has done well this year? That doesn't seem like a good bet. We've seen plenty of successful coordinators fail over the years, guys with more consistent resumes and longer periods of production.

3. "He's a great defensive mind!"

Is he? He has had very good defenses. He's also always had a talent advantage.

The thing I don't understand about Tennessee is that, while the administrations' mouthpieces in the local media keep telling us how hard it is to recruit and win here against the likes of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, etc…we never really try to hire a coach with a history of getting more out of less. Pruitt definitely continues that trend.

If you believe that he will be able to out-recruit the rest of the SEC, then I guess there is cause for hope. But hasn't that been what we've pinned our hopes on in coach after coach? Why would we think the result will be different this time?

One of the best measures of a coach is what they do in the big games and against teams of similar talent. Since Pruitt has never been the head guy, we have to go by his coordinator experience. In his biggest games (his two national championship appearances) Pruitt's defense has given up an average of 33 points (by contrast, Kirby Smart's defenses never allowed more than 21 points in the national championship game, and averaged 11.7 points allowed per NC game). That's not really the work of a defensive mastermind, especially considering the incredible talent he had at his disposal.

4. "We couldn't get anyone else!"

Well, that may be true. If so, though, that is due to the administration not the fans or the program. Accepting that result and supporting that administration does nothing to improve the state of the program. Haven't we learned anything at this point? Isn't "getting behind the new coach" and having patience the exact reason Dooley and Jones got big extensions, resulting in ridiculous buyouts?

If you truly couldn't get anyone who had a decent chance of winning here due to our administrative mess, wouldn't it be wiser to install an interim until we fixed the mess? Committing longterm to a weak hire simply doesn't make sense for anyone, save those hoping to continue bilking the fans while selling false hope. Sure, an interim would probably kill the recruiting class. But is it better to waste 1 year or 3-4 years?

5. "We got to give him a chance! He hasn't coached a game yet!"

Yes, we're back to that familiar point where the unknowable future is our new coach's best quality. Of course, no one can say for certain that Pruitt will fail, but given that there is so little evidence that he will succeed, it's a sucker's bet to think he'll ever be anything more than average here.

Mega BEMB

 

[hexnut]

OP you are an idiot and here's why. See your post.

 

[dancinoutlaw]

You’re the Oklahoma fan who said the same thing when Florida’s DC was hired, after a string of failed hires post NC winning icon Barry Switzer.

He may go on a Stoops-esque run. He may go on a Weiss-esque run. I'll be in the stands one way or the other. Nobody gets my fan card. That $hit$ mine.

 

[checkerboards09]

If you had put together a list after our Georgia loss this year of coaching candidates who you thought would come to UT given a nice compensation package, Pruitt wouldn't have been higher than 20th.

People are only happy with the hire because of the Schiano fiasco. Yea, sure, any coach *might* succeed. But there were many better bets that should've been in play that we missed on.

People are happy because Phil took over and is competent. Pruitt was very high on Fulmer’s list.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

As I have said before. I think our program will again see immediate improvement but after the third season we will go back down again
Dooley had us in a bowl game his first season then the second and third year were bad
Butch had us improved in the second third and forth season then we hit rock bottom
I predict that this will happen again

Can you predict something useful and get me some powerball numbers? Thx

 

[EastTNVol6240]

I agree with the OP. Pruitt has been a journeyman and has never had to build anything. He's always had exceptional talent. This team does not.

Does that mean he won't succeed? Of course not, but I want to see how this guy reacts once he's had time to evaluate his roster, and after he plays a few games. This is going to be tougher than he thinks.

Pruitt has benefitted from a bungled coaching search. Let's face it, Phil went to Fuente and Patterson and neither wanted anything to do with it.
At best, he's the 6th or 7th choice if you include Mullen, Brohm, and Cut. Granted, getting a sitting head coach is harder than it seems.

He'll get my support, but i could give two ****s about a press conference.

I’m sure he knows what he’s getting into after watching our prestigious program win 4 games last year.

 

[Vol67]

I know battered vol syndrome is a real thing and people here just want to feel positive about whatever they get at this point, but I don't feel that we've benefitted in any way by ignoring logic and facts over the years, so I figured I would point out why other schools weren't interested in Pruitt and why it won't work out here.

Let's tackle the "virtues" posters will reiterate ad nauseam:

1. "He's a great recruiter!"

Well, he has traditionally been at schools that have great recruiting. Has he really been the impetus behind it, or just part of a team?

Also, weren't we told the exact same about Dooley? Didn't Dooley come from a similar recruiting background?

Also, does it really matter so much that your head coach was a great recruiter as an assistant? If that were the case, wouldn't other Power 5 schools immediately go for the best recruiting assistants for their head jobs? Or are we just smarter than the rest of them? Does anyone actually believe that?

Haven't we gone down this road again and again? How many top recruits have we singed over the years that weren't properly developed or utilized? Haven't we learned, at this point, that a coach is much more valuable than a recruiter?

2. "He's just like Kirby Smart!"

Actually, looking at the differences between the two resumes is enlightening. Smart was Saban's defensive coordinator for 8 years. Pruitt has only been a defensive coordinator for 5 years total. He has only been Saban's coordinator for 2 years. So, we are certainly looking at less experience.

In fact, one looks at Pruitt's time as a coordinator, and the fact that he has never been at a school for more than 2 years, and you realize that he has very little experience developing personnel. This is a guy you want to rebuild with? By contrast, Kirby Smart was Saban's top assistant as he built the Alabama dynasty. That's far different than being a hired gun that is inserted into already established staffs and programs.

Do you really believe that every Alabama defensive coordinator will make an effective head coach just because Smart has done well this year? That doesn't seem like a good bet. We've seen plenty of successful coordinators fail over the years, guys with more consistent resumes and longer periods of production.

3. "He's a great defensive mind!"

Is he? He has had very good defenses. He's also always had a talent advantage.

The thing I don't understand about Tennessee is that, while the administrations' mouthpieces in the local media keep telling us how hard it is to recruit and win here against the likes of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, etc…we never really try to hire a coach with a history of getting more out of less. Pruitt definitely continues that trend.

If you believe that he will be able to out-recruit the rest of the SEC, then I guess there is cause for hope. But hasn't that been what we've pinned our hopes on in coach after coach? Why would we think the result will be different this time?

One of the best measures of a coach is what they do in the big games and against teams of similar talent. Since Pruitt has never been the head guy, we have to go by his coordinator experience. In his biggest games (his two national championship appearances) Pruitt's defense has given up an average of 33 points (by contrast, Kirby Smart's defenses never allowed more than 21 points in the national championship game, and averaged 11.7 points allowed per NC game). That's not really the work of a defensive mastermind, especially considering the incredible talent he had at his disposal.

4. "We couldn't get anyone else!"

Well, that may be true. If so, though, that is due to the administration not the fans or the program. Accepting that result and supporting that administration does nothing to improve the state of the program. Haven't we learned anything at this point? Isn't "getting behind the new coach" and having patience the exact reason Dooley and Jones got big extensions, resulting in ridiculous buyouts?

If you truly couldn't get anyone who had a decent chance of winning here due to our administrative mess, wouldn't it be wiser to install an interim until we fixed the mess? Committing longterm to a weak hire simply doesn't make sense for anyone, save those hoping to continue bilking the fans while selling false hope. Sure, an interim would probably kill the recruiting class. But is it better to waste 1 year or 3-4 years?

5. "We got to give him a chance! He hasn't coached a game yet!"

Yes, we're back to that familiar point where the unknowable future is our new coach's best quality. Of course, no one can say for certain that Pruitt will fail, but given that there is so little evidence that he will succeed, it's a sucker's bet to think he'll ever be anything more than average here.

Maybe you need to find another team

 

[alaVOL]

Pruitt is an awesome hire and here's why. We almost got Schiano!!!!

 

[Caleb59seal]

I'm pretty sure there is a team in Oregon you could go root for....

 

[DoubleA]

I know battered vol syndrome is a real thing and people here just want to feel positive about whatever they get at this point, but I don't feel that we've benefitted in any way by ignoring logic and facts over the years, so I figured I would point out why other schools weren't interested in Pruitt and why it won't work out here.

Let's tackle the "virtues" posters will reiterate ad nauseam:

1. "He's a great recruiter!"

Well, he has traditionally been at schools that have great recruiting. Has he really been the impetus behind it, or just part of a team?

Also, weren't we told the exact same about Dooley? Didn't Dooley come from a similar recruiting background?

Also, does it really matter so much that your head coach was a great recruiter as an assistant? If that were the case, wouldn't other Power 5 schools immediately go for the best recruiting assistants for their head jobs? Or are we just smarter than the rest of them? Does anyone actually believe that?

Haven't we gone down this road again and again? How many top recruits have we singed over the years that weren't properly developed or utilized? Haven't we learned, at this point, that a coach is much more valuable than a recruiter?

2. "He's just like Kirby Smart!"

Actually, looking at the differences between the two resumes is enlightening. Smart was Saban's defensive coordinator for 8 years. Pruitt has only been a defensive coordinator for 5 years total. He has only been Saban's coordinator for 2 years. So, we are certainly looking at less experience.

In fact, one looks at Pruitt's time as a coordinator, and the fact that he has never been at a school for more than 2 years, and you realize that he has very little experience developing personnel. This is a guy you want to rebuild with? By contrast, Kirby Smart was Saban's top assistant as he built the Alabama dynasty. That's far different than being a hired gun that is inserted into already established staffs and programs.

Do you really believe that every Alabama defensive coordinator will make an effective head coach just because Smart has done well this year? That doesn't seem like a good bet. We've seen plenty of successful coordinators fail over the years, guys with more consistent resumes and longer periods of production.

3. "He's a great defensive mind!"

Is he? He has had very good defenses. He's also always had a talent advantage.

The thing I don't understand about Tennessee is that, while the administrations' mouthpieces in the local media keep telling us how hard it is to recruit and win here against the likes of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, etc…we never really try to hire a coach with a history of getting more out of less. Pruitt definitely continues that trend.

If you believe that he will be able to out-recruit the rest of the SEC, then I guess there is cause for hope. But hasn't that been what we've pinned our hopes on in coach after coach? Why would we think the result will be different this time?

One of the best measures of a coach is what they do in the big games and against teams of similar talent. Since Pruitt has never been the head guy, we have to go by his coordinator experience. In his biggest games (his two national championship appearances) Pruitt's defense has given up an average of 33 points (by contrast, Kirby Smart's defenses never allowed more than 21 points in the national championship game, and averaged 11.7 points allowed per NC game). That's not really the work of a defensive mastermind, especially considering the incredible talent he had at his disposal.

4. "We couldn't get anyone else!"

Well, that may be true. If so, though, that is due to the administration not the fans or the program. Accepting that result and supporting that administration does nothing to improve the state of the program. Haven't we learned anything at this point? Isn't "getting behind the new coach" and having patience the exact reason Dooley and Jones got big extensions, resulting in ridiculous buyouts?

If you truly couldn't get anyone who had a decent chance of winning here due to our administrative mess, wouldn't it be wiser to install an interim until we fixed the mess? Committing longterm to a weak hire simply doesn't make sense for anyone, save those hoping to continue bilking the fans while selling false hope. Sure, an interim would probably kill the recruiting class. But is it better to waste 1 year or 3-4 years?

5. "We got to give him a chance! He hasn't coached a game yet!"

Yes, we're back to that familiar point where the unknowable future is our new coach's best quality. Of course, no one can say for certain that Pruitt will fail, but given that there is so little evidence that he will succeed, it's a sucker's bet to think he'll ever be anything more than average here.

OMG a fan doesn't like the hire. I guess we should fire him immediately then. LOLLLL

 

[VolDave53]

You haven't given a single reason why he's a "terrible hire." What you have done is find reasons why he's not a sure thing. Big difference, huge.

As he states, "I don't feel that . . . " Millennials need to feel. Adults need to have thoughts.

:hi:

 

[pick6]

Wow! Call Schiano. I believe he is still available. SMDH!

 

[Wishbone]

If CPF says Pruitt is the man to get the job done, how can anyone disagree? CPF was a great coach who won a NC. He can do no wrong.

 

[14VolFan88]

So you’re saying you’re taking a wait-and-see approach?

Taking a wait and see approach is the most reasonable thing anyone can do. CJP ball washers aren't doing that. If you don't think he is great mastermind future HOF inductee then you're a Negavol and you need to "get out of the way."

No one is saying fire him now. We are saying there is zero evidence to believe he will be any better than Dooley or Jones. Zero. We will find that out his first year when we see what kind of class he brings in and how well the team competes next year.

 

[Sudden Impact]

I agree with the OP.

I find it hilarious to see folks try to force their opinions on others just because we don’t think it’s a great hire compared to some people.

Our expectations have been watered down so much where our motto is “Well he’s not that bad and is better than the last previous coach we fired.”

We’ve been through this twice already but people tend to ignore it for whatever reason.

I find it hilarious to see you and the OP trying to force your opinions on others just because we think it's a good hire compared to some people.

Your Opinion, Sad for you and Opie Our expectations have been watered down so much where our motto is “Well he’s not that bad and is better than the last previous coach we fired.”

Do something about it besides come in on a Msg Board and complain, better yet find a program that meet your needs because you and the OP stick around for 7 plus years and all you can do is point out the problems and complain. We’ve been through this twice already but people tend to ignore it for whatever reasonNo 3 ADs and the HoH did it....piss poor hires all the way around...ADs and Football Coaches....You guys are going to have to get over it....Can't move forward if you are focused on your rear view mirror....

 

[UTRavens]

His entire post was well thought out, with facts to back up his reasoning.

LOL, what facts? Like I said before, the entire OP was just him saying "nuh uh" without providing any actual evidence that Pruitt would struggle at those things?

 

[teeball]

I suppose the OP is correct that CJP is certainly an unknown as a head coach. However there has never been a great head coach that began his career as a head coach, they all began as position coaches. So how do you know who will become a great head coach? My guess is that future great head coaches will often come from the staff of teams with great coaches. Why? Because great head coaches only hire staff that are talented, knowledgeable and winners and certainly CJP has demonstrated this based on the fact that Jimbo Fisher, Mark Richt and Nick Saban have all chosen to hire him. So while CJP is yet unproven my guess is that he will prove to be another assistant to head coach success story and an excellent choice for head coach at Tennessee. Go VOLS !!!

 

[dlravol2]

We went cheap again.......UT just won't pay the big bucks.

 

[jakez4ut]

We went cheap again.......UT just won't pay the big bucks.

offfered him $4m, he took 3.8 so he could put more in the kitty for assistants. that pool up to $5m.

and gundy turned down $7m/year.

cheap wasn't the issue. it isn't the issue.

 

[photovol]

Pruitt has my 110% support, he actually wanted the Job of Head Football Coach at Tennessee and that's says allot to me