KNOXVILLE — Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt relieved defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh of his duties after four games into the 2020 season.
Brumbaugh was hired by Tennessee in February.
Following the announcement of Pruitt parting ways with Brumbaugh, Valdosta High School head coach Rush Propst discussed his former defensive coordinator’s decision on the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days.”
Propst mentioned that “it is the head coaches prerogative, especially with Jeremy, knowing defense like he knows it” to make changes on the coaching staff.
“I just think he saw something that was not getting done in practice and it went over into the game, that is what happened,” Propst said. “Jeremy would not make a change unless something was not getting done properly — of what he wanted done. There are things that he wants done, in the film room and on the practice field that he knows needs to be done, and if that is not getting done, and it reflects in the ball game, you as a position coach is responsible for that position. If that position is not performing up to its capabilities, whether it be effort, whether it be scheme, whether it be technique, that all falls on the shoulders of that particular coach.
“I just think Jeremy has the right, as any head coach, to make a change. I applaud him in the fact that you can hang on sometimes too long, and sometimes we as head coaches will hang on and not make a change when you need to make a change — when inevitably is going to be a change made. I think he sort of feels like I’ll just go ahead and make it now. I think that is what he did. It is not something that he got mad at one game. He didn’t get upset about one particular game and make a rash decision, that did not happen. This has been something that has been boiling with him for several weeks. I think he finally had enough of whatever it was, he made the decision based on a combination of several things leading up to the decision to make a change.”
Pruitt will oversee the defensive line unit for the remainder of the season.
The entire show with Propst and former Alabama and Hoover High School defensive back Will Lowery can be listened to here or below.