Jeremy Pruitt returning to Alabama as defensive coordinator
Georgia’s Jeremy Pruitt was named the new defensive coordinator at Alabama, the Crimson Tide announced Friday.
The move is effective immediately, meaning Pruitt will not coach the Bulldogs’ defense in the Taxslayer Bowl. Georgia has not yet announced who will serve in Pruitt’s role for the Jan. 2 game against Penn State.
Pruitt, who worked under head coach Nick Saban for six years from 2007–12, replaced the departing Kirby Smart, who was hired as Georgia’s head coach this week.
After working with the Crimson Tide’s defensive backs for his final three seasons on campus, Pruitt left for his first defensive coordinator job at Florida State in 2013 and won a national title in his only year with the Seminoles.
He then worked under Mark Richt at Georgia in the same role for two seasons before circling back to Alabama.
• No. 1 QB prospect to decide between Florida, Georgia next week
No. 2 Alabama plays No. 3 Michigan State on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
- Kenny Ducey
