University of Tennessee fans in Chattanooga say they are excited and optimistic about the future of the program after the hirings of Phillip Fulmer as the program’s athletic director and Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt as the team’s head coach.
The hirings end a whirlwind of a month that brought national attention as the program fired its coach, hired a new one, backed out of that deal, was reportedly turned down by several candidates, suspended its athletic director and brought back former head coach Fulmer to lead the department.
“I think it’s almost a fantasy” to end up with Fulmer and Pruitt, local fan Chase Cole said outside his office in Warehouse Row. “I’m really excited now that that’s in place, but I would have told you you were crazy if you would have told me that [before the process].”
There was frustration among fans about the leadership of former athletic director John Currie.
Currie was the subject of a social media firestorm that ended when university chancellor Beverly Davenport called him home from the search to suspend him and name Fulmer his replacement.