Tuscaloosa middle school coach says he was removed for winning record

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC) - A Tuscaloosa coach says he was removed from the team for his winning record.

For nearly 10 seasons, TaMarcus Pruitt has been coaching winning football and basketball teams at Hillcrest Middle School.

Pruitt has hundreds of wins under his belt. His teams have been to the state tournament nine out of the past 10 years.

"We have a real family-orientated type program where kids come in and they buy in. We talk about you standing next to your brother," Pruitt said.

But recently Pruitt was notified by his principal he's being removed as head coach next season for winning all those games. Pruitt says for whatever reason Superintendent Walter Davie doesn't want him coaching.

"I don't know what type of message we're sending. Where to strive to be the best. Where you only challenge yourself by playing competition. Why would you want to erase competition? If you feel the team is superior or good," Pruitt said.

The news isn't sitting well with Pruitt's players, school staff and the community. Many see Pruitt as more than just a coach.

"A lot of kids that are coming from challenged homes are pushed and challenged academically because they want to play for coach Pruitt," David Evans, a local pastor and friend of Pruitt, said.

"It's really sad commentary that a superintendent would have time in his busy schedule to deal with something as minuscule like a coach winning. I thought that's what a coach is supposed to do?" Timothy Jones, who created an online petition to reinstate Pruitt, said.

Hundreds of people have signed the online petition Jones created asking the superintendent and county school board to bring Pruitt back as head coach.

Pruitt still has his teaching job at Hillcrest.

Pruitt says he did receive complaints from other schools that he was running up the score during games. He attributes that to his great teams.

"We don't accept mediocrity. We don't want to be good. We strive to be great. These are what my kids hear all the time," Pruitt said.

Superintendent Davie tells WBRC, the school board does not comment on personnel issues.

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