Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt has received a contract extension and raise, the University announced on Thursday.
The extension terms include compensation of $3.8 million in 2020, with an increase to $4.2 million starting in 2021. Pruitt’s contract now extends through the 2025 season.
“I’m excited that this extension gives Jeremy the runway to continue to build on the momentum and energy we have around our football program coming out of last season,” Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer said in a press release. “He has made excellent progress entering just his third year and clearly realizes there is much work still to be done. This extension secures him to continue his efforts to return our program to a championship level and shows our commitment to him, his staff, this team and the future of the Tennessee Volunteers. I am very grateful to Chancellor Plowman, our administration and Board of Trustees for their confidence and support as well as their leadership and attentiveness to the future of our overall athletics program.
“Jeremy and I were close to finalizing his extension early this year. But once the pandemic hit and we learned more and more about its potential impact on the department, Jeremy informed me that he preferred not to accept a raise for this year. His focus quickly shifted to his players and supporting them through a period of interruption and uncertainty. His selflessness and concern for the greater good has been neat to observe through all of this.”
Pruitt is 13-12 through two seasons at the helm on Rocky Top. The Vols are coming off of an 8-5 season in which they ended the 2019 campaign on a six-game winning streak, the second-longest active streak in the SEC.
“My family and I are grateful for the unwavering commitment the University of Tennessee has made to us,” Pruitt said. “We have worked hard to build our program the right way in a short amount of time, and there is still much work to be done. It’s a privilege to coach and mentor the outstanding young men who represent the Tennessee Volunteers. We are excited about the future and will continue to build a program Tennessee fans can be proud of.”
Year No. 3 at Tennessee for Jeremy Pruitt begins this Saturday night. The Vols will begin their 2020 campaign with a trip to South Carolina to face the Gamecocks. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
