KNOXVILLE — Jeremy Pruitt kicked off game week Monday ahead of playing at Auburn Saturday.
The third-year head coach opened his weekly Monday press conference by discussing how eight UT assistant coaches did not take pay cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I wanted to start this press conference talking about an article that was written about our assistant coaches the other day,” Pruitt said. “When you talk about contracts, the situation is fluid. I know the men that are in this building, and I know where their hearts are at. I also know the circumstances around decision making, what they’re looking for, and where they’re going in the future.
“The final chapter has not been written on that. They will continue to look and meet with our administration to see what they can do to help supplement the university.”
Pruitt was asked if assistant coaches brought the potential pay cut discussion to him, or if they made a decision on their own, saying he “knew that they were being approached about it.”
“With the communication and being in the middle of the season, I did not specifically sit down with any assistant coach,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt mentioned he does believe “that the final story has not been written yet” on the matter.
“It’s a fluid situation and with contracts, things change,” he said. “There will be opportunities to make adjustments as we move on.”
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