Casey Pruitt, former Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt’s wife, avoided punishment from the NCAA in the Vols’ improper recruiting scandal.
The NCAA released its punishments for Tennessee, which included an $8 million fine but no bowl ban, and for the guilty former Volunteer staffers who committed the violations.
Eight different Tennessee football coaches and staffers received show-cause penalties but Casey Pruitt received no punishment. While Casey was not a member of Tennessee football’s staff, she committed a number of violations during her husband’s tenure.
“In addition to the impermissible paid visits, two prospects, who later enrolled as student-athletes, received cash payments from the former head coach and/or his wife,” the NCAA’s report said Friday morning.
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Most notably, Casey Pruitt consistently provided money to the mother of a recruit for the downpayment on a car. Said recruit ended up signing with Tennessee and Casey provided the player’s mother with $500 in cash every month for car payments.
While Casey wasn’t a staffer at Tennessee, she does have a past working in college athletics. Ironically, Casey worked in compliance at Troy and Florida State where she was charged with making sure the athletic teams didn’t break NCAA rules.
Jeremy Pruitt wasn’t as lucky as his wife. The NCAA handed Pruitt a six-year show-cause related to the misconduct inside his Tennessee program. Eight former Tennessee staffers earned show-cause penalties with Pruitt’s being the second longest of the eight.
A show cause penalty means a school must have NCAA permission before hiring an individual. While employing someone with a show-cause, schools are open to more scrutiny and stricter judgement from the NCAA. Pruitt’s show-cause includes a one-year suspension at any school that hires him.
