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New Tennessee athletic director Danny White has radically changed the outlook for volunteer head coach research. And if you’re a Vols fan, Josh Heupel is a reason to feel good.
Heupel isn’t a candidate for UT, but he’s proof that White can adapt when seeking coaching and still deliver. Perhaps more impressive than White’s hiring of Scott Frost at UCF in 2015 (19-7 in two seasons, including a 13-0 campaign) or Lance Liepold at Buffalo in 14 (37 wins and three bowls) is Heupel to the Knights in ’17. Frost and Liepold were the better choices. That might not happen in Knoxville.
When Frost moved from UCF to Nebraska, White’s primary targets (Kevin Sumlin, Neal Brown) did not end up in Orlando. Heupel, then the Missouri OC, said yes, and has a 28-8 record with the Knights since. White’s current job in an SEC program damaged by years of administrative malfeasance is going to require careful market assessment, and possibly a tough sell to a quality candidate.
How white is changing Tennessee research
Last week, a coach who was interviewed while searching for White in Buffalo complimented me on his process and footballing sense, describing Tennessee’s new AD as “decisive and real.”
It’s a way for reporters to say that the best candidates now know they won’t have to deal with Crazy Tennessee. They won’t have to deal with former AD Phil Fulmer, they won’t have to wonder which corner of the Vol Booster network is actually too involved in administration, and they will work for someone with a great track record. recruitment of coaches. who, based on their reputation, will transparently communicate the reality of the situation in Knoxville with respect to the ongoing NCAA investigation.
At this point, I would expect White to debauch an FBS head coach sitting down with a logical contract when it comes to what comes from the NCAA. I also believe White will try as hard as possible to land a name big enough to energize both the donors and the base to support a new period of rebuilding in Knoxville.
Let’s break the field down into three categories: best available, publicly mentioned names, and seated head coaches, I think White could try poaching:
College football’s “ Big 3 ”
Among the seated head coaches considered to be the best available for any job – Matt Campbell of Iowa State, Luke Fickell of Cincinnati and Billy Napier of Louisiana – Campbell and Fickell were not options for UT before the arrival of White, and I think it’s still true afterwards. I was told that Fickell had already communicated to UT that he was happy with the Bearcats. To that end, I’m confident in saying that Fickell will not be leaving UC for anything less than Notre Dame or the state of Ohio. Perhaps if Penn State opened up (see below) he would have a chat, but the man with six children seems destined for Catholicism’s most prominent American job.
Napier is the wild card here. He was born in Cookeville, Tennessee, and raised in Chatsworth, Georgia, literally just over the border. It’s also just moved away from South Carolina and Auburn, a story that takes different paths depending on who you talk to. At first glance, Auburn (even in Saban’s day) is arguably a better gig than the sanctions-battered Tennessee, but context could be key here. White would almost certainly not chain Napier with requests or warnings from staff, especially Kevin Steele in either situation.
Napier would be a massive win for UT. They may push a tale that he’s turned down other league jobs to come “home” while preaching patience during the rebuild. He’s a Saban tree trainer familiar with the SEC sausage factory, but unlike Pruitt, he’s an offensive guy with head coaching experience.
Publicly mentioned names
White has a reputation for defying media predictions. he mentioned this specifically last week.
Right now, I’m confident the three most mentioned candidates – PJ Fleck of Minnesota, Sonny Dykes of SMU, and Clemson OC Tony Elliott – have been legitimately approved but won’t get the job unless White has to do a third or fourth choice.
Of the three, Fleck is the most likely here. His media-friendly personality would close what could be a substantial gap between now and any time a post-sanctions UT can become competitive again. He’s also a seated head coach who went through a MAC program at the New Years Six and won 11 games in Minnesota in 2019.
Do I think these names are an intentional smokescreen? Sort of? I don’t want to say yes, as that would imply that these coaches are not quality candidates or that they are used. But I believe White is using the luxury of a public list to distract himself from trying to get a bigger “get”.
P5 coaches sitting in Tennessee could try poaching
Scott Satterfield, Louisville – I’m cheating a bit here because I’ve seen Satt mentioned for the job in some places, but nowhere as much as Fleck, Dykes and Elliott. His first Cardinals team finished 8-5, but Louisville finished 4-7 in 2020. Take the 2020 records for whatever you want; I tend to ignore them, but not everyone in the industry does. This is where I mention that Satterfield was linked with the South Carolina opener last fall and ended up at UL without an overtime or raise from AD Vince Tyra. I don’t think this relationship is in the best place. Satt would jump to the UT job, but I don’t think he qualifies as a “wow” hiring right now.
Dave Doeren, State NC – If Phil Fulmer had run this research instead of White, Doeren would probably be at the top of this list. It was part of the ‘second half’ research Fulmer conducted in 2017 after former DA John Currie was fired that ended with Pruitt (he was originally reviewed by Currie). He also nearly got the Ole Miss job over then-acting Matt Luke that same year. The Wolfpack finished 8-4 in 2020 and looked better than most industry players would expect and uh, yeah … I can’t see that happening under White. I reject Doeren because of his popularity with the previous regime (stupid logic, but popular in this industry) and his lack of national power.
Neal Brown, West Virginia – Brown has SEC experience as an assistant in Kentucky (and former player). He beat Ed Orgeron’s LSU in a Troy rebuild, meaning he picked up a win over an SEC national title winner more recently than Tennessee. It is 0.500 in West Virginia, but the trend is increasing; several Big 12 wizards have pointed out to me that Brown appears to be ahead of the schedule for rebuilding WVU. His name was launched late in the search for Auburn, but the gig went to Bryan Harsin, who is taken over by the same agency as Brown. Honestly, I’m not sure UT supporters see this as a “big hit,” but Brown is popular with ADs and people in the industry.
James Franklin, Penn State – How was 2020 in Happy Valley? This remains to be determined. Hypothetically, let’s assume that one or both parties here want to move on (and let’s pause and realize how healthy the Cal / Dykes divorce has turned out). Franklin was anguished about leaving Vanderbilt in 2013 not because the Commodores were equal to PSU, but because he had realized the potential for recruiting and development in the SEC. His last two recruiting classes at Vandy were ranked higher than Penn State’s by 247 (2012: VU # 46, Penn State # 47; 2013: VU # 25, Penn State # 33).
So – rightly or wrongly – when you win nine games a season in the toughest job in the top league, you can’t help but think about how good you would be in a power schedule. Is Tennessee an SEC Energy Program? Not immediately. Was Penn State in the Big Ten when he arrived? Not at all, but they’re now a solid No.2 or 3. Franklin’s personality would apply well to the road ahead in Knoxville.
The reality check is that Penn State just extended Franklin last year with a deal that’s over $ 7 million a year, including incentives. It seems way too steep for UT to match at this time, especially if they end up having to pay Pruitt some or all of its buyout.
Mike Norvell, State of Florida – It depends on what you think of the Florida state off-court turmoil. If you’re inclined to believe it’s the worst case scenario, it’s not at all unlikely that Norvell will think the same and want to go out. As the head coach of Memphis, he has been endorsed by several SEC programs. Some did not like him and vice versa. As for the optics, if you’re in Tennessee, you don’t hire the head coach from Memphis, you hire the one from the state of Florida. And if you are a member of #FSUTwitter my real name is William Elliott Jr. and it’s my Twitter handle.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss – Sure why not. I read Twitter. I know what crazy bangs want and I don’t have to explain myself.
RYAN NANNI, EDITOR OF BANNER SOCIETY: Steven, this is your real job.
Good. He meets all the requirements: Seated P5 head coach, attacking spirit, excellent recruiting. Even has a league experience. And it would give Tennessee the satisfaction of snatching an SEC head coach, and something akin to shutting down after Kiffin came out of the Flights after the 2009 seasons. This move is unlikely, potentially hilarious, and would be. amazing in every good and bad thing imaginable. I can’t decide if that’s too wild a notion for White, or just what’s needed to make him look like a pivot.
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