Staff Reports
The lawsuit involving former Tennessee Head Football Coach and Rainsville native Jeremy Pruitt against the NCAA now has a hearing date.
The date for the lawsuit to be heard is October 15 at the DeKalb County Courthouse. The lawsuit filed by Jeremy Pruitt on March 26, 2025, is a result of Pruitt being fired as the head football coach at the University of Tennessee in 2020.
Pruitt was fired by Tennessee for allegations that his staff committed recruiting violations that involving players receiving cash payments.
In the lawsuit, Pruitt states that the Tennessee chancellor told him that he didn’t commit any violations during the meeting when he was subsequently fired. The lawsuit also states that the University of Tennessee made Pruitt the “sacrificial lamb’’ for the violations that had been committed long before Pruitt arrived in Knoxville.
After being hired by then athletic director and former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, Pruitt discovered that payments were being made to players. Pruitt immediately informed Fulmer of his discovery, and Fulmer told Pruitt that “he would handle it”.
The NCAA gave Pruitt a six-year show clause as a result of the so-called violations. The show clause means that any school that tries to hire him during that period would have to make a case to the NCAA on why he should be able to coach.
Pruitt, in the lawsuit, is claiming he has suffered damages that include lost wages, other compensation, future loss of wages, damage to his reputation as a football coach, and emotional distress and mental anguish. The estimated damages will be over $100 million.
The lawsuit will be heard on October 15 at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Fort Payne. The NCAA, on July 14th, filed a motion to dismiss the case because the DeKalb County court “does not have personal jurisdiction over the NCAA” and that DeKalb County is not a proper venue for the two parties and witnesses who are involved in this case.
Pruitt’s lawyers have subpoenaed employees of the University of Tennessee. In which their deposition will be taken in Knoxville prior to the October 15 hearing.
Jeremy Pruitt was unable to be reached for a commitment.
