Dale Pruitt returns for third stint at Plainview

Rainsville, AL – Veteran head coach Dale Pruitt will be leading the Plainview Bears football program for the third time this fall.  The Dekalb County program officially welcomed Pruitt back to his alma mater in early June.

Pruitt, who served as the Bears head coach from 1984-2000 and from 2006-2014, takes over for Nick Ledbetter who is stepping into an administrative role at the school.  Ledbetter posted a 23-21 record, highlighted by a 10-2 finish in 2020 and three playoff appearances over four seasons at the helm of the Plainview program. 

Pruitt accepted his first head coaching position at Pisgah in 1982.  His two year stint with the Eagles ended with a 17-5 record including an 11-1 record and a region title in his final season.  He made the move to Plainview in 1984 guiding the Bears to a 147-59 mark with 12 postseason berths, 10 region crowns and a pair of appearances in the AHSAA Class 3A title game before accepting the top job at neighboring Fort Payne in 2001.  

In three seasons at Fort Payne, he lead the Wildcats to an 18-13 record and the program’s first trip to the playoffs in nine seasons.  

Click here to check out the full 2022 Alabama high school football Coaching Carousel. 

After a pair of seasons at Tennessee’s Marion County High School (14-9) the Jacksonville State alum returned to Plainview in 2006 compiling a 67-35 record, eight postseason appearances and a pair of region titles.  He made the jump to 6A Albertville prior to the 2015 season.  He guided the Aggies to a 26-17 mark and made three trips to the playoffs in four seasons.  

Pruitt stepped into Georgia for one season in 2019 leading the Dade County Wolveines to a 2-8 mark before making a second stop at Marion County (TN).

Pruitt’s career head coaching record currently stands at 307-152 with 13 region titles and 25 AHSAA playoff appearances over 38 seasons. 

Pruitt’s sons Jeremy and Luke, both Plainview graduates, following their father into the head coaching ranks.  Jeremy is the former University of Tennessee head football coach, Luke currently leads the Pisgah Eagles football program. 

The Bears will join Geraldine, Glencoe, Hokes Bluff, Ohatchee, Piedmont, Sylvania and Westbrook Christian in a redrawn Class 3A, Region 6 in 2022.