Former Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Jeremy Pruitt has filed a massive lawsuit against the NCAA.
In the lawsuit filed in DeKalb County, Alabama, Pruitt claims Tennessee and the NCAA conspired to make him the “sacrificial lamb” for rules violations that were taking place at the school before his arrival. He also alleged that the investigation that led to his firing was rigged against him so Tennessee would not have to pay him the money he was still owed.
According to Pruitt, Tennessee was illegally paying players prior to his arrival, and that he informed athletic director Phillip Fulmer of that situation. Fulmer allegedly assured Pruitt that the issue would be handled.
Pruitt was accused of illegally making cash payments to players and their families totaling around $60,000. As part of the lawsuit, the ex-coach claimed that he was punished for giving players impermissible benefits after the United States Supreme Court had ruled that such benefits should be legal.
Pruitt is seeking $100 million in lost wages from the NCAA.
Former Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt has sued the NCAA in DeKalb County, Alabama, claiming that the association “conspired with Tennessee” to make him the “sacrificial lamb” for rules violations resulting in his firing and a 6-year showcause.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) March 27, 2025
He’s claiming $100M in lost wages. pic.twitter.com/H0b69vvAK5
Pruitt spent three seasons at Tennessee from 2018 to 2020 before being fired over the alleged rules violations. The coach received a six-year show-cause penalty and a one-year suspension if he ever landed a new job with an NCAA program. To date, Pruitt has not worked at the college level again.
Whether his claims are true or not, Pruitt was largely unsuccessful at Tennessee and alienated a lot of people during his tenure there. He went 16-19 overall, but 11 of those victories were vacated as a result of the allegations against the program.
