ELMHURST, Ill. – Elmhurst University and Director of Athletics Glen Brittich have announced the hire of Jason Pruitt as the 15th head coach of the Elmhurst women's basketball program.
"Jason Pruitt was a clear choice for the committee and me to be the next leader of Elmhurst University women's basketball," Brittich said. "His ability to lead student-athletes to success both on and off the court has been proven over his years as a head coach, and our entire campus could not be more excited to add him to the Bluejay family."
"I am thankful and honored to join the Elmhurst University family and am looking forward to building a legacy program that will make the University and the community proud," Pruitt said. "This process has truly shown that the women's basketball program at Elmhurst University is ready to be among the elite. I can't wait to share my love for the game with the talented student-athletes who are ready to go on this journey with us. This next season will no doubt be an exciting ride."
A seasoned coach and athlete, Pruitt has spent 11 seasons as a head coach and has turned multiple programs into perennial title contenders. He owns a 114-98 overall head coaching record, and has coached 20+ athletes to all-conference nods, won two conference championships, and has been named his conference's coach of the year five times.
"From the minute I arrived on the Elmhurst campus, it felt like home. During my interview I was blessed to witness the excitement and passion for what the future holds," Pruitt said. "Basketball is my passion because it's a sport that pushes us to our limits. It demands excellence, reveals and develops character, and teaches life lessons that live long and extend far beyond the court."
Pruitt comes to Elmhurst after serving seven seasons as the head coach at the University of La Verne, in La Verne, Calif. The university is a member of NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), and Pruitt led the Leopards to a 67-62 overall record in his time there.
He led one of the largest program turnarounds in the country, taking a program that went 5-21 in his first season to the best season in program history in 2022-23. Pruitt led the 2022-23 squad to a 24-3 program record, earning the SCIAC regular season title and garnering multiple weeks inside the D3Hoops.com and Women's Basketball Coaching Association (WBCA) top-25 polls. He and his coaching staff also earned the conference's Coaching Staff of the Year honors, and placed three student-athletes on the all-conference first and second team.
In his time at La Verne, Pruitt led six total first team all-conference players and led the NCAA and SCIAC in multiple statistical categories in his seven seasons.
Prior to his time at La Verne, Pruitt spent one season at the University of Antelope Valley in the NAIA and California Pacific Conference (CALPAC). Pruitt made an immediate impact, leading the program to the CALPAC regular season championship and earning conference coach of the year honors. He coached three all-conference selections as well as the conference defensive player of the year, leading the NAIA in multiple statistical categories.
He started as a head coach at Bethesda University of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), leading the Flames for three seasons. In his first season, he led the program to their first-ever postseason appearance, and earned the NCCAA Western Region Championship in both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, also earning Western Region Coach of the Year honors in both years and coaching four NCCAA All-Americans. His 2013-14 squad made a run to the NCCAA National Championship game, finishing with runner-up honors.
Pruitt also made coaching stops at California Institute of Technology as associate men's basketball coach and the University School of Nova Southeastern as associate head basketball coach.
A decorated athlete himself, Pruitt was a star basketball and track & field athlete at Colbert County High School in Leighton, Ala., where he earned a pair of high jump state championships and was a part of the 1997 Alabama State basketball championship team. Pruitt went on to play basketball at John C. Calhoun State Community College, where he won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Alabama State Championship and played in the NJCAA National Championship game. He finished his collegiate athletic career with a season at Division I Mississippi Valley State University before spending his last season at Kentucky State University.
Pruitt holds an associate degree from John C. Calhoun State Community College, a bachelor's degree in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University, and a master's degree in Educational Technology from Nova Southeastern.
Prior to his time coaching, Pruitt spent a decade in the media industry in various positions at NBC, CBS, and ABC affiliates. He has also spent time teaching at the high school and collegiate levels, leading courses in communication, media technology, digital journalism and sports marketing.
Pruitt and his wife, Kara, have three daughters, Trinidy, Jayla and Kya, and a son, Quest.
