Tag Archives: Jeremy Pruitt

Updated: Tide’s Pruitt to coach through bowl game

Posted on December 20, 2012 by | Comments Off

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Alabama coach Nick Saban said assistant coach Jeremy Pruitt will remain with the team through the BCS National Championship Game, even though Pruitt has accepted the Florida State defensive coordinator’s job.

“Jeremy has done a really good job here,” Saban said. “He’s grown up in the program here. We’re happy for him and we wish him well. He will stay here and coach the bowl game, which I don’t really feel is an issue or problem. He’s a guy that played at Alabama. He loves Alabama. It’s tough for him to leave Alabama. But it’s a professional decision that I think he had to make.”

Florida State announced Pruitt’s hiring Thursday. According to multiple published reports, Pruitt will receive a salary of about $540,000 before bonuses. His salary at Alabama for 2012 was $260,000.

Pruitt, 38, joined the Crimson Tide in 2007 as director of player development after serving three seasons as Hoover High’s defensive coordinator. Pruitt was promoted to Alabama’s defensive backs coach in 2010.

“This is a great opportunity for me to join another one of the top college football programs in the country and take over as defensive coordinator for one of the best defenses out there,” Pruitt said in a news release by FSU. “I really appreciate Coach (Jimbo) Fisher and his staff in welcoming me to the Seminole family. I’ve enjoyed my time at Alabama and am grateful to Coach Saban and my Crimson Tide family for their support in preparing me as I begin the next chapter in my coaching career.”

Pruitt played at Middle Tennessee State before transferring to Alabama and playing defensive back under Gene Stallings in 1995-96.

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Thoughts from Thursday’s Alabama football practice

Posted on December 20, 2012 by | Comments Off
Chance Warmack with the warclub protecting his left hand. (Copyright photo by Brett Hudson)

Chance Warmack with the warclub protecting his left hand. (Copyright photo by Brett Hudson)

Even with the sun shining brightly, Alabama practiced inside its indoor facility today in full pads. The Tide avoided a fierce wind and grounds soaked by Thursday rain.

After missing Wednesday’s workout for personal reasons, secondary coach Jeremy Pruitt returned to practice today. Florida State announced today he has accepted the Seminoles’ defensive coordinator job.

Freshman linebacker Denzell Devall (6-foot-2, 243 pounds) wasn’t at practice during the media viewing period. Reports say he hurt his knee Wednesday, although it apparently isn’t serious.

Alabama guard Chance Warmack is back wearing the protective wrapping that makes his left hand look like a club, although he insists his injured finger is fine. Noseguard Jesse Williams (knee) returned to the practice field after spending two days on the exercise bike, which always looks monotonous.

We watched receivers for much of our viewing period, which lasted for about 16 minutes. The Crimson Tide worked on short routes, including ones in which receivers had to muscle away from a defensive back and immediately catch a pass. Christion Jones seems so good at these types of routes, which he showed with his 22-yard reception in the SEC Championship Game. He stands 5-foot-11, but he seems able to play smaller when needed, and that seems to make him harder to manage for guys covering him close to the line.

We have two videos. The first features the receivers. The second includes a more complete look at practice, and Brett Hudson compiled it.

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How Alabama’s coaches stack up salary-wise

Posted on December 19, 2012 by | Comments Off
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart embraces quarterback AJ McCarron after their 32-28 win in the SEC Championship Game. (AP photo by Dave Martin)

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart embraces quarterback AJ McCarron after their 32-28 win in the SEC Championship Game. (AP photo by Dave Martin)

Alabama’s Kirby Smart ranks third nationally among the highest paid assistant coaches for 2012.

USA Today published a comprehensive survey of salaries, most of which included public-school data that is subject to open records requests.

Southern California defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin ranks first with $1.5 million, followed by Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris at $1.3 million. Smart makes $950,000 and is followed by LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis ($911,250). Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is fifth with $875,000 earned in 2012.

According to USA Today’s survey, Alabama has the highest-paid coaching staff nationally at $9,281,738, which includes head coach Nick Saban‘s salary of $5,476,738. Texas ($9,264,750) is second, followed by LSU ($7,865,652).

Alabama assistant coaches’ salaries
Smart, defensive coordinator/linebackers, $950,00
Doug Nussmeier, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, $590,000
Jeff Stoutland, offensive line, $395,000
Lance Thompson, outside linebackers, $375,000
Bobby Williams, special teams/tight ends, $350,000
Chris Rumph, defensive line, $310,000
Burton Burns, associate head coach/running backs, $290,000
Mike Groh, receivers/recruiting coordinator, $285,000
Jeremy Pruitt, secondary, $260,000

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FSU could pick up ex-Tide assistant as well as Jeremy Pruitt

Posted on December 16, 2012 by | Comments Off

According to multiple published reports, Alabama defensive backs coach Jeremy Pruitt has accepted a job as Florida State’s defensive coordinator.

Former Tide assistant coach Sal Sunseri could join Pruitt on the Seminoles’ defensive staff.

Tomahawk Nation and 247sports.com have reported the hire of Pruitt, although Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher hasn’t made an official announcement. FSU defensive coordinator Mark Stoops has left the Seminoles to take the Kentucky head coaching job.

Florida State defensive back commitment Marquez White of Dothan posted on Twitter on Sunday, “Coach Pruitt to FSU ayyyyyyyy.”

Coachingsearch.com is reporting Alabama might target Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Charles Kelley as Pruitt’s possible replacement.

Pruitt, 37, joined Nick Saban‘s staff at Alabama in 2007 as director of player development. He began coaching defensive backs in 2010.

He was named National Recruiter of the Year last season by 247sports.com.

Like Pruitt, Fisher has coached under Saban, serving as his offensive coordinator at LSU during 2000-04.

Sunseri, 53, coached linebackers at Alabama during 2009-11 before joining Derek Dooley‘s staff as defensive coordinator. Sunseri was fired at the end of the Vols’ 2012 season when Dooley and his staff were dismissed.

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