USA Today reveals potential candidates

USA today: “Kiffin was the Head Coach of Flights in 2009. He compiled a 7-6 (4-4 SEC) record with a win over Georgia.”

247Taking up sport: Kiffin still has a lot of love for Tennessee and says it on social media, but he just signed a multi-year extension to stay with the Rebels earlier this month. And given the current state of the program, would a return to Knoxville from Oxford be somehow a sideways move for the 45-year-old offensive guru?

247Taking up sport: The favorite in betting at +300 to get the job According to Sportsline, the successful Louisiana coach has spent four seasons under Nick Saban in Alabama and is waiting for a perfect opportunity – one that fits his “plan” so to speak. So far Auburn and South Carolina haven’t offered either, but maybe the situation in Tennessee meets its criteria.

247Taking up sport: It would undoubtedly be a risk for Flights to engage Freeze, who was fired on Ole Miss amid violations, given Pruitt’s ouster for cause. College football insider Bruce Feldman said this week that a freeze in Tennessee was unlikely.

“Having known Hugh Freeze, I know he had dreamed of this job, to be the head coach of Tennessee,” Feldman said on ESPN Radio Wednesday. “He did a really good job at Liberty. He’s a great caller and trainer. If Hugh Freeze got the job in Tennessee, he would win it faster, probably than anyone else I can think of. The problem is, he was fired at Ole Miss for a scandal, not just over personal conduct violations … but NCAA issues that weren’t just important to Ole Miss, but to the SEC.

“I would be very surprised, not to mention the optics that Tennessee would have to deal with…. People would say, ‘Wait a minute, are you talking about integrity and hiring Hugh Freeze? I don’t know how Greg Sankey, the commissioner of the SEC, would approve this hiring. Especially with the NCAA aligned. If all that NCAA stuff related to Jeremy Pruitt and his staff didn’t happen…. I could see power brokers in Tennessee go “look at this guy can win here and wants the job.” He could be the guy. But I don’t see Greg Sankey letting that happen.

247Taking up sport: Was Malzahn underestimated on the plains? He has beaten Nick Saban several times, won 77 games in eight seasons and won a conference championship in the 2013 campaign. He is best known for being the mastermind behind Auburn’s offense in his 2010 national championship season. and Flights could use innovative concepts in an offensive way.

247Taking up sport: When there’s a guy who’s available with 147 career wins as a Darkhorse nominee and has run a college football playoff program in the past that doesn’t recruit at Alabama state caliber levels , from Clemson, take a closer look and gauge his interest. Would Petersen leave retirement to train in the SEC? He’s been a winner in Washington and Boise State and it’s not easy.

247Taking up sport: Hafley is recruiting at an “all-time high” right now with Boston College, so imagine the level at which he could get players with a lot more resources in Knoxville. He made the most of his first season with Eagles and instilled confidence in his players. He preaches the vision and that is exactly what Tennessee needs right now.

247Taking up sport: Chadwell is more than a flavor of the month lighting wand after a spectacular 11-game winning season with the Chanticleers. He would bring excitement to Tennessee with an innovative offensive philosophy. Chadwell, however, signed a seven-year extension in December that places him in Coastal Carolina during the 2027 season.

247Taking up sport: Herman has found success in Texas, but not at the level expected with one of the country’s bluebloods. Herman’s wife recently berated a report that he was interested in the South Carolina job after the Gamecocks parted ways with Will Muschamp this season, so maybe a stint in the SEC isn’t that he’s looking for at the moment.

247Taking up sport: With the potential to become one of the nation’s brightest offensive minds, Tennessee should go the long-term path with Spavital. At 35, Spavital is only 5 to 19 as the Texas State head coach after calling the West Virginia, California and Texas A&M games before that. He would certainly be a high risk, but affordable employee.

USA today: “Satterfield was the head coach of Tennessee Tech from 2016 to 2017, posting a 6-16 record. He is from Greenback, Tennessee and was a catcher and bettor at East Tennessee State (1995-98).”

USA Today’s Wire Flights mentioned several options not previously mentioned on other hot forums, including Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, Kansas State Head Coach Chris Klieman, Matt Entz of the North Dakota State, Scotty Walden of Austin Peay, Sean Lewis of Kent State, Tom Arth of Akron, Randy Sanders of East Tennessee State, Jason Simpson of UT Martin, Jay Norvell of Nevada, Lance Leipold of Buffalo, Kalen DeBoer of Fresno State and Ole Miss’s former coach Matt Luke.