Jeremy Pruitt lawyer threatens lawsuit as Tennessee refuses settlement

Michael Lyons, the lawyer representing former Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt, gave Tennessee an ultimatum: Either reach a settlement with Pruitt by Oct. 29, or face a lawsuit

“On behalf of my client, I can tell you that he’s not happy that this is the only choice they’ve left him with, but he’s not going to walk away without getting his day in court,” Lyons said via the USA TODAY Network. “He’s going to file a lawsuit, they’re not leaving him much choice.”

Lyons previously stated in a letter sent to the University of Tennessee’s general counsel, requesting a meeting to discuss a settlement that if forced to file a lawsuit, information that would become public would “embarrass UT.”

“If Coach Pruitt is forced to file a lawsuit,” Lyons wrote. “It is inevitable that this information will become public, embarrass UT and those associated with it, including its largest donors, and result in debilitating NCAA sanctions.”

Tennessee fired Jeremy Pruitt for cause on January 18, 2021 after just three seasons. Pruitt was fired after an internal investigation found evidence  that members of his staff engaged in conduct that was likely to result in multiple NCAA Level I and/or Level II violations and that Pruitt failed to monitor his staff’s actions or promote an atmosphere of compliance. Pruitt, who led the Volunteers to a 16-19 record in his time, did not receive any of the $12.6 million buyout that was part of his contract since he was fired for cause.

University general counsel Ryan Stinnett responded to Lyons on Monday, obtained by the USA Today Network through a public records request along with Lyons’ letter, stating that Tennessee has no intention of settling and is prepared to defend its actions.

“Your letter contains no denials of your client’s actions,” Stinnett wrote. “Instead, you raise vague and unsupported allegations of other violations by the University and threaten to embarrass the University publicly by revealing these alleged violations.”

He continued.

“The University emphatically denies these allegations and will not be intimidated into settling with your client based on your unsupported assertions,” Stinnett wrote.

Michael Lyons previously represented former Kansas head coach David Beaty, who sued the university after it refused to pay him a $3 million buyout following his 2018 firing. Kansas reached a $2.55 million settlement with Beaty, and the former Jayhawks head coach recently had a violation against him withdrawn as part of KU’s NCAA infractions case.

Jeremy Pruitt, 47, is currently a senior defensive analyst with the New York Giants on Joe Judge’s staff.