Yes, it’s time to panic Alabama. A veteran in the coaching industry just spurned your program, and a coach he’s been with since 2019, for the exact same position with Tennessee Football under a pair of coaches he has never worked with in any capacity.
The Vols tabbed longtime coach William Inge to replace Brian Jean-Mary as their linebackers coach. Jean-Mary left for the Michigan Wolverines last week. Inge has spent the past two years with the Washington Huskies as co-defensive coordinator under Kalen DeBoer. According to Football Scoop, UT won him over the Crimson Tide.
Under DeBoer, Inge was also defensive coordinator of the Fresno State Bulldogs in 2020 and 2021. He brings a wealth of experience with him, as he coached special teams for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2016, 2018 and 2019, linebackers there in 2016 and 2017 and was co-defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2015.
Before that, Inge was the Buffalo Bills’ DC in 2010 and 2011 and stayed on there as an assistant defensive line coach in 2012. He coached linebackers under Brian Kelly with the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2008 and 2009 and with the San Diego State Aztecs in 2006 and 2007, and he was the Colorado Buffaloes’ D-Line coach in 2005.
Born in Missouri, Inge played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 1990s. He actually has experience in Tennessee, as he played defensive end for the then-Oilers in 1997. A year later, he began his coaching career at Iowa, and his first on-field role was over a four-year period with the Northern Iowa Panthers.
Amidst all that experience, the product of Kirkland, Mo., brings a lot to the table to Tennessee Football. Why, though, did he spurn Alabama for the Vols? Well, it could obviously be money, as UT has a lot more to throw around than the Tide are either able or willing to do right now.
On the other hand, perhaps Inge is unhappy that DeBoer brought in former South Alabama Jaguars head coach Kane Wommack to run the defense along with former Buffalo Bulls head coach Maurice Linguist and former Wisconsin Badgers co-DC Colin Hitschler. How could DeBoer find three coordinators but not his coordinator of the past four years?
Either way, though, this is a blatant snub to Alabama. It very well could be that Inge sees the Tide imploding. Either way, despite his lack of SEC experience, Inge can be a huge asset for Tennessee Football and is likely to finally help the Vols linebackers reach their potential.
