Danny White has a blueprint for hiring coaches that he didn’t seem to realize.

Tennessee’s athletic director typically wants young, up-and-coming coaches who – where it applies — bring an exciting style of play.

That would include football and basketball, but not track, golf or rowing.

“I don’t know that I pigeonhole myself into that end result,” White said in a recent interview. “I guess hearing you say it, I probably have hired more up and comers.”

White’s hiring record at Tennessee would support that theory. His most recent hire was Kim Caldwell to lead the Lady Vols basketball program. The 35-year-old has one year of Division I head coaching experience.

In football, White hired Josh Heupel, who had three years of D-I head coaching experience. Heupel was 42 when hired in January 2021.

At Tennessee, White has also hired rowing coach Kim Cupini (early 40s when hired), women’s golf coach Diana Cantu (33 when hired), soccer coach Joe Kirt (mid-40s when hired), track coach Duane Ross (49 when hired) and cross country coach Sean Carlson (34 when hired).

Only Cupini had more than seven years of head coaching experience at the D-I level.

At Central Florida, White hired Heupel when he was 39.

When White was athletic director at Buffalo (2012-15), he hired football coach Lance Leipold (then 51) and men’s basketball coach Nate Oats (then 40). Leipold is now at Kansas and Oats just took Alabama to its first-ever Final Four.

While not all of White’s hires fit a certain criteria, most do.

White expanded on his hiring philosophy.

“I think it’s about fit and where we are as a program,” White said. “I think who they are as a person. Character matters a ton.

“But how does style of play and recruiting strategy and fit all come together in a way that ultimately I feel is compelling and something that I think I can make work. Is this someone that our fan base and our University community is going to rally around?”

White said another key element in hiring a head coach is being assured that coach will hire a solid staff.

“Hiring good, smart head coaches that hire good people around them is all part of the formula for success,” he said.

White also focuses on coaches in football and basketball that are offensive minded.

“I’m a sports marketer,” he said. “I’ve said before, two touchdowns are better than the absence of touchdowns. I’ll say the same thing about 3-point shots and dunks and home runs.

“We’ve got pretty exciting play across the board and some of that is intentional.”

White said he wants coaches who deliver an “exciting brand” of play that makes it fun for the fans and student athletes.

White got that at Buffalos with Oats and Leipold. He’s had it at Tennessee with Heupel. He hopes to have it with Caldwell.

“I do kind of like offense,” White said. “You’re diagnosing that for me a little bit.”