Alabama defensive backs coach Jeremy Pruitt has been hired as Florida State’s defensive coordinator after Mark Stoops took the head coaching job at Kentucky. The Florida State job would be Pruitt’s first as a college coordinator, although he served in that role at Hoover (Ala.) High School before coming to work for the Crimson Tide. In his three seasons as the Tide’s defensive backs coach, Pruitt has grown his reputation as a great communicator towards his players and a fabulous recruiter. Pruitt also comes from a system at Alabama that runs a 3-4 base defense, rather than the 4-3 scheme at Florida State. While it’s possible FSU could make a switch, given the Seminoles personnel, it is not likely to see a defensive scheme switch.
Former Tennessee DC Hired by FSU: Former Volunteers’ assistant Sal Sunseri has joined the Florida State coaching staff as a linebacker and/or defensive end coach. Sunseri, who was just fired after a one-year stint as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, bring years of experience and knowledge to a Seminoles defensive coaching staff short in the tooth. Between 1985 and 1992, Sunseri worked as a defensive ends and linebacker coach for Pitt, his alma mater. Furthermore, Sunseri was the defensive ends coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2002 to 2008. After the NFL, he joined Nick Saban’s defensive staff at Alabama, as outside linebackers coach.
