Michael Shane Pruitt

Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Morgan Funeral Chapel, Attalla, AL. The family will receive visitors in the Chapel from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the Funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Pastor Roger Waggoner to officiate.

Michael was born and raised in Etowah County, AL, he was a christian and loved the Lord. He graduated from Southside High School in 1988 where he wrestled for four years under the leadership and guidance of the late legendary Coach Jimmy Blanton. At Southside, Michael was a 4-year letterman in Wrestling and a 1-year letterman in Golf. He was on three AHSAA State Championship Wrestling Teams in 1985, 1986, and 1987. After graduating from Southside High, Michael attended Auburn University on an Army ROTC Scholarship and was commissioned an Army Reserve Officer and graduated from Auburn in 1992. He graduated Airborne School and served in the active reserves in the Military Police and Chemical Branches as an Officer until 2000.

He went back to school for his master’s degree in Secondary Education: Social Sciences at Jacksonville State University where he graduated in 1995. While working on his master’s degree from 1992-1995, his former coach, Jimmy Blanton, asked him to help coach the Southside Wrestling Program. Michael helped coach those three years as an Assistant Varsity, Junior High, and Youth League Wrestling Coach. He also assisted Coach Blanton as an Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach for three years, in which one of them resulted in the team being AHSAA State Runners-Up. In 1995, Michael was hired as the Head Varsity Wrestling Coach at Arab High School. In his 24 years as the Head of the Knights Wrestling Program, his teams have won seven AHSAA Traditional State Championships (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018), two AHSAA Dual State Championships (2017 and 2018), and had four AHSAA Traditional State Runner-Up Team Finishes (2006, 20089, 2010, and 2019). His career dual meet coaching record as Head Coach is currently 602–139-3. Michael was named to the Class of 2019 Hall of Fame - Alabama Chapter.

Michael has coached 30 individual state champions, 125 state placers, and 214 state qualifiers. He was named the State of Alabama NFHS Coach of the Year for Wrestling in both 2013 and 2014. Michael has had the honor of serving as the District 8 Representative on the State Wrestling Committee since 2010. He was helpful in the AHSAA introducing the State Duals Championships in 2017 and was active in working to grow the sport of wrestling in Alabama. Michael was grateful to be a part of the Alabama Wrestling Family and always wanted to continue to give back to the beloved sport, which has had such a profound positive impact on his life. Michael currently taught at Gautier High School in Gautier, Mississippi.

Michael is a recipient of: Year 2019 Award Lifetime Service to Wrestling Chapter/Region Alabama Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements and inspiring future generations.

Preceded in death by his father, Larry E. Pruitt; grandparents, Jesse & Nellie Cash and Thomas and Emma Pruitt; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Michael is survived Vicki (mother) and Royce Chambers; sister, Lisa (Michael) Farrell; stepbrother, Justin (Kelly) Chambers [Brianna, Carley, Kyler, and Everlee]; stepsister, Mandi (Russell) Olson; nieces, Kelly (Casey) Hilderbrand [Caitlin], Samantha (Ryne) Wester [Baron and Reed], step niece, McKenzie (Will) Ankersen [James and Wyatt]; many cousins; and special long time friends, Scott Cleland and Lamar Coker; special recent friend, Dawn Bond; the Arab wrestling family, the Pell City wrestling family and all former students and wrestlers.

Pallbearers will be Lamar Coker, Klay Cranford, Jared Pruitt, Jay Pruitt, Justan Pruitt, Cody Shaneyfelt and Caleb Shaneyfelt.

Honorary pallbearers are all Wrestling Coaches.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to the Ocean Springs, Mississippi SICU Unit, especially Joshua Powell.