After the surprising news on Tuesday that Robert Gillespie was no longer a part of Tennessee’s program, Jeremy Pruitt is in the market for a new assistant coach. Who could be on Pruitt's hot board? Here are a few names to watch from the VolQuest.com staff.
Joe Osovet – Osovet is the head coach at ASA junior college. Osovet interviewed with Pruitt when UT’s head coach was in the market for a receivers coach in January. Osovet is known for a high-octane offense that he led at Nassau Community College before going to ASA's Brooklyn campus. Sources tells Volquest that Pruitt and Osovet have talked recently, but details of the nature of those conversations are unclear at this point.
Rush Propst – Pruitt's former boss at Hoover High School has been mentioned as a staff possibility since Pruitt was hired. Propst spent time in Knoxville back in December, visiting with the staff. Propst, who coached JJ Peterson, and Pruitt are very close. Propst has never been a college coach, so while he has a great pedigree, the biggest feather in his cap would be Pruitt’s comfort level because of their long standing relationship. Sources say Propst wasn't surprised by the news of Gillespie's departure, creating UT’s staff opening.
Des Kitchings – The running backs coach and recruiting coordinator is also an assistant head coach at NC State. Kitchings and Pruitt know each other a bit, as Pruitt interviewed Kitchings for the wide receivers job last month. Kitchings candidacy remains unless right now. Did Pruitt not hire Kitchings because he didn't think he was a good fit? Or was it because the position of wide receivers wasn't the right job for Kitchings?
Chris Weinke – Weinke was set to join Pruitt's staff back in December, but the deal fell through. Would whatever the reason be prevent a deal from being done if that's who Pruitt wanted to hire? Would Weinke be interested after things didn't workout in December?
Jay Graham – Multiple sources tell Volquest, that as of Tuesday evening, Pruitt had not had any kind of conversation with Graham. Obviously, Graham knows Pruitt having worked with him for a year at Florida State. The issue is Graham is under contract with Texas A&M. The Aggies are paying good money to Jimbo Fisher's staff. Details of Graham's contract have not been released, so it's unclear how realistic Graham might be financially. Graham would certainly be a popular choice among Tennessee fans.
Joe Osovet – Osovet is the head coach at ASA junior college. Osovet interviewed with Pruitt when UT’s head coach was in the market for a receivers coach in January. Osovet is known for a high-octane offense that he led at Nassau Community College before going to ASA's Brooklyn campus. Sources tells Volquest that Pruitt and Osovet have talked recently, but details of the nature of those conversations are unclear at this point.
Rush Propst – Pruitt's former boss at Hoover High School has been mentioned as a staff possibility since Pruitt was hired. Propst spent time in Knoxville back in December, visiting with the staff. Propst, who coached JJ Peterson, and Pruitt are very close. Propst has never been a college coach, so while he has a great pedigree, the biggest feather in his cap would be Pruitt’s comfort level because of their long standing relationship. Sources say Propst wasn't surprised by the news of Gillespie's departure, creating UT’s staff opening.
Des Kitchings – The running backs coach and recruiting coordinator is also an assistant head coach at NC State. Kitchings and Pruitt know each other a bit, as Pruitt interviewed Kitchings for the wide receivers job last month. Kitchings candidacy remains unless right now. Did Pruitt not hire Kitchings because he didn't think he was a good fit? Or was it because the position of wide receivers wasn't the right job for Kitchings?
Chris Weinke – Weinke was set to join Pruitt's staff back in December, but the deal fell through. Would whatever the reason be prevent a deal from being done if that's who Pruitt wanted to hire? Would Weinke be interested after things didn't workout in December?
Jay Graham – Multiple sources tell Volquest, that as of Tuesday evening, Pruitt had not had any kind of conversation with Graham. Obviously, Graham knows Pruitt having worked with him for a year at Florida State. The issue is Graham is under contract with Texas A&M. The Aggies are paying good money to Jimbo Fisher's staff. Details of Graham's contract have not been released, so it's unclear how realistic Graham might be financially. Graham would certainly be a popular choice among Tennessee fans.
