Pruitt Makes Changes to Coaching Staff After 34-7 Loss to Kentucky Rival
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE- OCTOBER 3: Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs the ball during the football game at Neyland Stadium on October 3, 2020 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Tennessee Football Twitter @vol_football)
After the Tennessee Volunteers lost to the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt made a big change to his coaching staff. Pruitt decided to fire his defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator Jimmy Brumbaugh.
Kentucky’s 34-7 win Saturday is the largest margin of victory in Neyland, since their 56-0 win in 1893. The Kentucky-Tennessee rivalry is the third-most played in SEC history. This devastating defeat caused Pruitt to rethink their tactics going forward. Pruitt says he plans to coach the defensive line for the remainder of the season.
Brumbaugh was hired after Pruitt decided not to renew their contract with former defensive line coach Tracy Rocker. Bumbaugh was then signed to a two-year contract with a $650,000 pay out per year. He had 15 months remaining on that contract, as it was set to end January of 2022. Tennessee will still owe him more than $800,000.
Tennessee lost its SEC rank of 18 after Saturday’s loss. They move on to face No. 2 Alabama at home this weekend. Kentucky moved up to the 18th spot after the shut out.
Now only three original members from Pruitt’s 2018 coaching staff remain at Tennessee– quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke, inside linebackers coach Brian Niedermyer, and offensive line coach Will Friend. However, Niedermyer started off as the tight end coach, and Weinke was originally the running backs coach.
Undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee. Roebuck is studying Journalism and Electronic Media with and emphasis on sports broadcasting. She also works as a sports writer and anchor on the Volunteer News show. Roebuck is the co-writer, producer, and anchor for the Daily Beacon's Weekly Wrap up. It airs every Monday.
