Tennessee officially hires Alabama DC Jeremy Pruitt as head coach

It's over. By golly, it's over.

Tennessee has ended one of college football's most arduous head coaching searches, as the university announced Thursday that it has hired Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to be the Volunteers' next head coach.

"Six days ago, I mentioned several attributes that I sought to find in the next leader of our football program, and Coach Pruitt meets all criteria" athletic director Phillip Fulmer said in a statement. "I'm certain he appreciates the unique opportunity to lead a program of Tennessee's caliber. He's driven to win at the highest level. He will honor our university's values, operate with integrity, and be a role model for our student-athletes.

"I know Coach Pruitt will hit the ground running and go to work restoring our program to a championship level."

The contract is believed to be for six years, according to Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated. The university has scheduled a press conference for Thursday evening to introduce Pruitt.

The hiring ends an ongoing saga set in motion with Butch Jones' firing on Nov. 12, and was shifted into overdrive by the fiasco surrounding former athletic director John Currie and his aborted attempt to hire Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano following intense fan backlash.

The Schiano ordeal eventually led to Currie being fired and replaced by Fulmer, who appears to have finally filled the position after a laundry list of candidates said thanks, but no thanks.

The 43-year-old Pruitt has spent the last five seasons as a defensive coordinator with Florida State (2013), Georgia (2014-15), and Alabama (2016-17).