John Adams of the Knoxville News Sentinel joins Caleb Calhoun and Dave Hooker on Off the Hook Sports’ Tuesday, Feb. 20 podcast to discuss Tennessee Football assistant coaching hires, the Vols’ 2024 schedule, the Alabama Crimson Tide and hiring legends at programs. More specific coverage of each new staff member also generated conversations.
Did Tennessee Football upgrade its staff?
After losing running backs coach Jerry Mack to the Jacksonville Jaguars and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary to the Michigan Wolverines last week, Tennessee Football found a replacement for both in De’Rail Sims and William Inge respectively. Did the Vols upgrade their position coaches in both spots?
Toughest team on Vols’ 2024 slate not named Georgia
Given the fact that the Georgia Bulldogs on the road will obviously be the toughest game for Tennessee Football, who will be the next team most likely to beat the Vols? Generally, the Alabama Crimson Tide would seem like the obvious choice, but without Nick Saban, could the Oklahoma Sooners be it?
Alabama outlook
With Kalen DeBoer taking over Bama, how good will this team be in 2024 and the years beyond. Will there be a slow decline of the program, will it be immediate, or will it actually maintain its level of success? Is there a possibility that the dynasty could somehow even improve over the years?
Hiring legends
Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers may be on the hot seat, and Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines may be done. Is this a cautionary tale about hiring coaches just because they were legends at the school they are taking over? Could the Vols learn something from these failures?
Is Tennessee Football RB coach a recruiting hire?
Circling back to the hire of Sims to replace Mack, did the Vols make this move for recruiting purposes? Sims was the running backs coach under Scott Satterfield for the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2023 and the Louisville Cardinals in 2021 and 2022. He also brings deep ties to the Carolinas and Virginia.
Vols LB coach a slab in Alabama’s face?
Looking back on the hire of Inge to coach linebackers, he was DeBoer’s defensive coordinator with the Fresno State Bulldogs and Washington Huskies. Why did he spurn Bama to join UT? Could it be because Alabama as a program is in trouble, or is this more about the demotion to a position coach?
