Rainsville's Pruitt replaces Willis on Bama staff

Alabama football coach Nick Saban didn't take long to fill a vacancy on his staff.

Saban promoted director of player development and former Hoover High defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to a full-time defensive position Friday. A specific duty was not announced for Pruitt, who replaces Crimson Tide linebackers coach James Willis.

Willis left Alabama after one season Thursday, when he was named Texas Tech's defensive coordinator under new coach Tommy Tuberville.

"Jeremy will be a great addition to our staff," Saban said. "He has an excellent knowledge of the game, and he will be an outstanding recruiter because of the relationships he has built through the years in this state and throughout the Southeast."

Pruitt played at Plainview High in Rainsville before signing with Middle Tennessee State, where he competed for two seasons in the secondary before transferring to Alabama. He was a backup for the Tide under Gene Stallings in 1995-96.

After beginning his coaching career as a student-assistant at Alabama under Mike DuBose in 1997, Pruitt spent eight of the next nine years working in high schools. The one exception was 1999, when he was secondary coach at West Alabama.

Pruitt helped guide Hoover to 6A state titles in 2004-05.

"Growing up, I always dreamed of some day playing at Alabama and then hopefully coaching at Alabama, so this is really special," Pruitt said. "There isn't a better place anywhere to learn on the defensive side of the ball as an assistant coach, and I am excited to get started."

Willis made headlines last winter when he left Gene Chizik's newly assembled staff at Auburn, where he once played linebacker, for the cross-state rival. Until his departure, Willis had been the only member off Tuberville's 2008 staff retained by Chizik.

"This is a great opportunity for James to become a defensive coordinator," Saban said. "We always want our assistants to advance professionally in terms of their careers, and we are very happy for him. James did an outstanding job for us last season, and I'm sure he will do the same for Tommy in his new role."