Vols head coach Butch Jones is out at Tennessee. Here's a look back at his time with the team. Wochit
Tennessee football coach Butch Jones was fired on Nov. 12 after five seasons with the Vols. Jones went 34-27 during his tenure, including a 14-24 record in the SEC. Athletic director John Currie promised an "exhaustive search" to find Jones' replacement.
Here's the latest on the coaching search.
What about Gundy?
There's a lot of smoke circling around Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy on Tuesday. WNML's Jimmy Hyams, citing sources, reported that the Vols have made Gundy their top target. Additionally, Robert Allen of the Oklahoma State 247 website GoPokes.com reported that Currie was set to meet with Gundy on Tuesday.
Gundy has flirted with Tennessee in the past. Tennessee targeted him during the last search, but Gundy stayed put in his home state, and UT hired Jones.
A UT plane is scheduled to depart Knoxville for Stillwater, Okla., later this afternoon, according to the website FlightAware.com, which tracks flights.
What a Sunday
Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano won't be the next Tennessee head coach. But he almost was.
Sunday began with a USA TODAY report that Schiano was in line to be hired by the Vols. Then it began. The Tennessee fan base erupted. State representatives chimed in. Local businesses tossed in their two cents.
The uproar, in part, stemmed from Schiano's years spent at Penn State working on Jerry Sandusky's staff. Testimony released in 2016 mentioned Schiano's name, as former Penn State staffer Mike McQueary testified that fellow assistant Tom Bradley told McQueary that Schiano was aware of a child sexual abuse incident by Sandusky, who was Penn State's defensive coordinator.
Schiano and Bradley denied having knowledge or witnessing any of Sandusky's abuse.
But the backlash was overwhelming and the deal was reportedly dead by the end of the day.
Currie issued a statement Monday morning defending his coaching search, stating that Schiano was "carefully interviewed and vetted."
More: John Currie says Tennessee 'carefully interviewed' Greg Schiano
Before Sunday's madness, reports Saturday pointed to Mississippi State's Dan Mullen being the leading candidate, while the Vols backed away from Iowa State's Matt Campbell.
Mullen was hired Sunday by Florida.
How about a couple names from UT's past?
Former Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe is "a viable candidate," Footballscoop.com reported last Monday. Cutcliffe is in his 10th season coaching Duke.
The website listed a few other names of potential interest, including Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson, another former Vols offensive coordinator. Clawson is in his fourth season at Wake Forest, which is 7-4. He previously coached five seasons at Wake Forest.
What about Jon Gruden?
The Gruden-to-Tennessee rumors have gone on for so many years that they have a name of their own: Grumors.
As expected, with the Tennessee job open, the Grumor mill is in full swing.
Even Calhoun's restaurant joined the fray on Saturday, Nov. 18.
More: Knoxville BBQ restaurant apologizes for spreading Jon Gruden rumors
Multiple media outlets, citing unnamed Calhoun's employees, reported that Gruden was dining at the restaurant's Tennessee River location with former UT quarterback Peyton Manning.
Following the reports, Calhoun's released a statement saying it wasn't sure it was Gruden at the restaurant and apologized for its part in the matter. An ESPN public relations official wrote on Twitter that Gruden was in Seattle preparing for "Monday Night Football" and not eating barbecue in Knoxville. The Seattle Times also reported that information.
On Friday, Nov. 17, CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd reported that Tennessee has "considerable reservations about hiring Gruden."
The strongest report came from Grant Ramey of GoVols247, who reported, citing sources, that Currie flew to Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Gruden lives in Tampa. Additionally, sources told GoVols247 that UT gave Gruden a deadline on making a decision.
Gruden, when asked about the Tennessee opening on ESPN's "Mike and Mike" on Nov. 15, said "You never say never to nothing."
The Chattanooga Times Free Press, citing sources, reported on Wednesday that Gruden has contacted some college assistants to gauge their interest in possibly joining him on a coaching staff.
Paul Finebaum, of the SEC Network and ESPN, said on his radio show on Tuesday, Nov. 14 that one source close to Gruden told him that Gruden is not coming to Tennessee.
Footballscoop.com addressed the Grumors with a report that stated "Gruden has no interest in being the next coach at Tennessee."
Gruden, who coached in the NFL at Oakland and Tampa Bay, is an ESPN analyst.
Dan Mullen, Bobby Petrino field questions on job openings
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen had been on the wish list for some Tennessee fans long before UT fired Jones.
Mullen was asked Monday at his news conference how the attractiveness of the Tennessee job compares to the job he has.
"I love the one I have," Mullen told reporters in Starkville.
More: Dan Mullen on Vols' opening: 'I have a great job' at Mississippi State
More: Why not Jon Gruden? Or Dan Mullen? Or Scott Frost?
Additionally, the topic of job openings came up at Louisville coach Bobby Petrino's Monday news conference.
“I don’t really worry about it,” Petrino said Monday, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. “I’ve just got to focus on what I can do. (Director of football operations Andy Wagner) was asking me something earlier today. I said, ‘I don’t even know that.’ "
Neither coach definitively stated they weren't interested in Tennessee.
Mullen and Petrino are two of the 15 names off our coaching hot board.
Report states that an NFL assistant is of interest
The New York Daily News, citing sources, reported that Tennessee has interest in New York Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers.
Rodgers, a native of Humboldt, just north of Jackson, played linebacker/defensive end for the Vols from 1988-91. He's in his third season as the Jets' DC. The Jets rank 16th in the NFL in scoring defense.
Currie isn't using a search firm
One of the more interesting comments from Currie's news conference Sunday night was that he said he doesn't plan to use a search firm at this time.
That implies a couple things: One, Currie probably has been working on this search for a while, even though Jones wasn't fired until Sunday. And two, Currie might already have a short list of candidates and feels good about his ability to nab one of them.
Who are names to watch?
As is typical during coaching searches, a lot of names will be thrown against the wall by various media outlets. Some will be linked to the Tennessee job. Rumors will rule the day.
More: Butch Jones' replacement as Tennessee football coach: 15 names from Gruden to Gundy
Here are 15 names we think could come up during the search.
Who is the interim coach?
Currie named defensive line coach Brady Hoke the interim coach on Sunday. Hoke has previous head coaching experience at Michigan, San Diego State and Ball State.
Brady Hoke gives his first press conference after he was appointed by athletic director John Currie as the Vols' interim coach on Sunday after Tennessee fired Butch Jones. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
Hoke promised some "tweaks" are coming as the Vols prepare for their final two regular-season games and vowed that the staff would give a good effort for the seniors.
More: UT Vols' Brady Hoke to get $50,000 extra a month for interim role
What was the cost for firing Jones?
Jones was under contract through Feb. 28, 2021. Because he was fired without cause, he's owed $8.26 million in buyout money, according to the separation agreement UT released. That buyout adheres to the language in Jones' contract. Jones is required to seek comparable employment to mitigate the damages.
More: Butch Jones fired: What's in football coach's termination letter from Vols AD John Currie
The buyout will be paid in monthly installments until Jones' contract was set to expire.
The Vols still remain winless in the SEC as LSU defeats them 30-10. Wochit
Tennessee interim head coach Brady Hoke talks after the Vols lost 30-10 to LSU Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Tennessee linebacker Colton Jumper describes the experience of playing in bad weather conditions Saturday, when the Vols lost 30-10 to LSU. Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer talked about the 1997 SEC title team on Friday Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Tennessee defensive end Kyle Phillips talks Butch Jones' firing, interim coach Brady Hoke Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Tennessee tight end Ethan Wolf talks Butch Jones' firing and Brady Hoke as interim coach Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Tennessee kicker Aaron Medley talks Butch Jones' firing, Brady Hoke as interim coach Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Tennessee punter Trevor Daniel talks about the aftermath of Coach Butch Jones' firing Dan Fleser
Brady Hoke gives his first press conference after he was appointed by athletic director John Currie as the Vols' interim coach on Sunday after Tennessee fired Butch Jones. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
The Vols still remain winless in the SEC
Brady Hoke: Disappointed for Vols seniors after loss to LSU
Colton Jumper: 'It was a monsoon out there'
Phil Flumer: 1997 Vols team set stage for 1998 national title
Kyle Phillips: Season has been disappointing for Vols
Ethan Wolf: Hard to describe Sunday, Butch Jones' firing
Aaron Medley: Sunday was 'weird' day for Vols
"Trying to move forward"
Brady Hoke: We are going to coach our hearts out
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