It's been a whirlwind past month for Pruitt, who was named Tennessee's coach on Dec. 7. He juggled that job and his role as Alabama's defensive coordinator through Monday, when the Crimson Tide won the national title. UT Sports
Jeremy Pruitt wore a white half-zip pullover with an orange Power-T on the chest as he addressed reporters on Wednesday.
He's all Tennessee's now.
"I’m excited to finally be in Knoxville, to get started," Pruitt said.
It's been a whirlwind past month for Pruitt, who was named Tennessee's coach on Dec. 7. He juggled that job and his role as Alabama's defensive coordinator through Monday, when the Crimson Tide won the national title.
Adams: Jeremy Pruitt will see UT Vols' quarterback problems firsthand
After the game, he shed the Alabama duties.
“The whole reason I stayed and coached in that game was because I felt like I needed to do it for those kids, to help them get what they want," Pruitt said. "But most of the time, my mind was thinking in Knoxville, I can tell you that.”
Blake Toppmeyer, John Adams and Mike Wilson on Pruitt's press conference on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.
Pruitt said his farewells at Alabama's team hotel after the Tide's 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia. Alabama is his alma mater, and he spent nine seasons coaching there between three stints.
"To kind of see everybody off and all that deal was kind of good for me," Pruitt said. "I enjoyed it, but I was ready. I had to tell my wife, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get to the room, because we’ve got to get packed up. We’ve got to get ready to go in the morning.’ I’ve been ready to get here.”
Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, hired as Tennessee’s coach in December, discusses the challenge of juggling two jobs. Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Pruitt arrived at Tennessee on Tuesday and met with the team that night.
“Everybody was all smiles," Pruitt said. "They always are at the first meeting.”
More: Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt hasn't closed door on Jauan Jennings return
Pruitt said getting to know the players is his most important task right now.
"I feel like that’s one of the things over the years that’s kind of helped contribute to the success that I’ve had is the players, getting heavily involved with them," Pruitt said. "Right now, the players, they don’t know me and I don’t know them. We started last night.”
Pruitt confirmed he's hired nine of his 10 on-field assistants: offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tyson Helton, defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer, running backs coach Robert Gillespie, offensive line coach Will Friend, unspecified offensive assistant Brian Niedermeyer, co-defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph, safeties coach/special teams coordinator Charles Kelly, defensive line coach Tracy Rocker and cornerbacks coach Terry Fair.
More: Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt details staff hires, including Tyson Helton, Kevin Sherrer
"I'm excited about the guys that we've hired," Pruitt said. "These guys have done an excellent job when I've been away."
Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, hired as Tennessee’s coach in December, discusses the challenge of juggling two jobs. Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Tennessee reporters Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson discuss the Vols' recruiting class heading into the early signing period Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Coffee County senior Alontae Taylor signed with Tennessee on the last day of the early signing period. Tom Kreager
Gibbs' Ollie Lane signed with the Vols on Early Signing Day Dec. 20, 2017 Diana Nearhos/News Sentinel
Ensworth's Tanner Antonutti talks about why he signed with Tennessee. Tom Kreager / USA Today Network - Tennessee
See why Nashville Christian's Brant Lawless is signing with Tennessee. Tom Kreager
Jerome Carvin to Tennessee By John Varlas/The Commercial Appeal
Keaton Jones, whose bullying video has gone viral, visited with UT Athletics Director Phil Fulmer and members of the Vols football team on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Submitted/ University of Tennessee.
Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt was introduced during a timeout at the Vols basketball game on Saturday Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Watch a time lapse of University of Tennessee sophomore Kate Luffman painting The Rock to welcome UT Vols new coach Jeremy Pruitt. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks about who he sees as the Vols' opponents during his introduction ceremony in the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
The Tennessee coaching search has gone through a tumultuous week. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
Tennessee has named former head football coach Phil Fulmer as the athletics director. Wochit
John Currie is out as the Tennessee athletic director after eight months on the job and one chaotic week of a football coaching search, according to media reports. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has been hired as the next coach at Tennessee. Wochit
More than 100 people gathered outside Neyland Stadium on Nov. 26, then marched on Anderson Training Center to express outrage after reports surfaced that Tennessee is finalizing a deal to hire Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano. Calvin Mattheis
Jauan Jennings on Sunday drove by a crowd who, minutes earlier, had chanted "Free Jauan." The UT Vols released Jennings after he posted a profanity-laced rant to Instagram. He has since apologized. Submitted / Twitter user @witness781
The hardest part of juggling two jobs? The guilt, Jeremy Pruitt says
Early signing day: Breaking down Tennessee's current class
Alontae Taylor signs with Tennessee football
VIDEO: Ollie Lane: I can't wait to be a part of Tennessee football
Tanner Antonutti is ready to join the Vols
Brant Lawless signs with Tennessee
Jerome Carvin to Tennessee
Keaton Jones visits UT
Jeremy Pruitt introduced at Vols basketball game
Watch a time lapse of The Rock being painted to welcome UT Vols new coach Jeremy Pruitt
Who Pruitt sees as Vols' opponents
A timeline of Tennessee's coaching search
Phil Fulmer named Vols athletics director
John Currie out as Tennessee athletic director
UT Vols: 5 things to know about Jeremy Pruitt
Crowd speaks out against Greg Schiano, calls for John Currie's firing
Jauan Jennings drives by Sunday's protest of Greg Schiano