Former College Football Coach Sues NCAA, Accuses Organization and Former School of Wrongdoing
Former Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Jeremy Pruitt has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging that the organization conspired with the University of Tennessee to make him a scapegoat in a high-profile recruiting scandal. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Dekalb County, Alabama, seeks $100 million in lost wages and claims that Pruitt was unfairly targeted following an investigation into improper benefits for players.
Pruitt, who was fired in 2021 amid accusations of recruiting violations, argues that Tennessee was already engaged in paying student-athletes before he took over the program. His lawsuit also contends that the reasons for his dismissal—once considered violations—are now allowed under current NCAA rules.
Additionally, Pruitt claims he informed then-athletic director Philip Fulmer about the payments, believing Fulmer would address the issue. The lawsuit further alleges that after Pruitt received a “show cause” penalty, preventing him from coaching in college football for several years, the NCAA and Tennessee reached an agreement in which the university paid a fine roughly equal to what Pruitt was owed in severance.
Neither the NCAA nor the University of Tennessee has publicly commented on the lawsuit. However, this legal battle could have major implications for how the NCAA handles past and present infractions, particularly in light of recent changes to player compensation rules.
