https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2018/06/28/ut-vols-pruitt-smart-could-heat-p-tennessee-georgia-rivalry/696324002/

When Kirby replaced Richt as head coach, he didn't retain Pruitt as defensive coordinator, even though they both had worked together on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama.

I wonder how he felt about being slighted by Smart?

Did Pruitt leave on his own for the job at Bama?

My guess is these two are professionals with no personal hard feelings, but I could be wrong.

cincydawg said:

---

Did Pruitt leave on his own for the job at Bama?

---

On 28 November 2015 Pruitt said "I want to be at Georgia". The next day UGA fired HC Mark Richt. Since AD Greg McGarity didn't appreciate Pruitt requesting on 18 November 2014 that UGA build an IPF for the 2015 season, the support wasn't there for Jeremy to be retained. Thus Pruitt jumped at Saban's offer to be Alabama's DC on 11 December 2015 and things worked out very well for him (i.e., he led the #1 FBS scoring defense in 2016 & 2017, was hired as Tennessee's HC on 7 December 2017, and won a national championship on 8 January 2018):

https://www.dawgnation.com/football/team-news/jeremy-pruitt-leaving-uga-and-kirby-smart-let-him-go