Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Is it finally time for Tennessee football to move on from Butch Jones?

By Justin Dottavio

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Head Coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers is seen on the sidelines during the second half of their game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Head Coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers is seen on the sidelines during the second half of their game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
(Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /

1. There are good coaches available

Some seasons it’s better to just wait a year and give your head football coach one more season to figure it out or be fired. However, heading into 2018 there could be some major coaches available.

There are two big time former head football coaches that are currently unemployed in Chip Kelly and Les Miles. Kelly, I presume, will look at the NFL first and then a college job in a bigger city with a larger media market. Miles could be the perfect fit for the Vols as he has SEC experience. Beyond that, he can recruit and he’s a national title winner. These could both be pipe dreams but they’re a real possibility for Tennessee. It would take a pay raise, but you get what you pay for.

What about the group of 5 coaches? Scott Frost has turned UCF around immediately. He faces off with a fellow rising coach, Mike Norvell of Memphis on Saturday night. Rocky Long of San Diego State is an option as well. Back-to-back 11-3 seasons a 4-0 start to 2017 could put him on the UT radar.

There are big time assistants looking for a promotion as well. Brent Venables will leave Clemson eventually. His defenses have been legendary the past few years. Landing him would be a steal. Jeremy Pruitt has to be looking as well. Jedd Fisch will be in line for a head coaching position, as will Jim Leavitt at Oregon and Ruffin McNeil at Oklahoma.

Next: 5 coaches that won't replace Butch at UT

Manny Diaz, who serves as the keeper of the Turnover Chain in Coral Gables, could be a choice as well, but maybe he’ll start at a smaller program than UT for his first head job. No matter who gets the call, there are plenty of names to choose from.

Home/Tennessee Volunteers