Vols hire Brady Hoke; Walt Wells replaces Don Mahoney

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones continued transforming his coaching staff, including adding a prominent name to the defense.

Former Michigan coach Brady Hoke has been hired as associate head coach/defensive line coach and Walt Wells was promoted to offensive line coach, the university announced Tuesday night.

Steve Stripling will move from associate head coach/defensive line coach to director of football program development. Don Mahoney did not have his contract renewed after serving as offensive line coach for the past four seasons.

Hoke, 58, agreed to a two-year contract at $500,000 annually. Wells agreed to a two-year contract at $300,000 annually.

Stripling’s current contract expires Feb. 28, and UT plans to release an updated salary at that time. Stripling’s total pay for the 2016 season was $410,000. Mahoney's contract expires Feb. 28. His total pay for the 2016 season was $365,000.

"We feel extremely fortunate to get someone of Coach Hoke's caliber that will continue to develop our defensive linemen while also providing expertise and experience to all of our players and coaching staff," Jones said in a statement. "He has an extensive track record of success as a head coach and on the defensive side of the ball. He will be a great fit to our entire organization."

Hoke is the third addition to the coaching staff this offseason and Mahoney is the second coach to be let go. After offensive coordinator Mike DeBord left to take the same position at Indiana, Larry Scott was promoted to the role and Mike Canales was hired as the quarterbacks coach. Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez was fired and replaced by Charlton Warren.

Hoke comes to Tennessee after an unsuccessful one-season stint as the defensive coordinator at Oregon, where Hoke tried to turn the Ducks’ defense around with a new scheme.

Oregon’s defense ranked 126th out of 128 team in scoring and total defense last season, allowing a school-record 41.4 points and 518.4 yards per game. In the season before Hoke arrived, Oregon allowed a then-school record 37.5 points per game.

Hoke inherits a UT line that struggled through an injury-riddled season. Tennessee’s defense gave up 218.5 yards rushing to rank 104th in the nation. The Vols allowed 449.2 total yards per game (96th) and 28.8 points per game (tied for 68th).

"Tennessee has a great tradition, a great program and a rabid fan base. That is something you always want to be involved with," Hoke said in a statement. "To come here and be a part of this staff - Coach Jones and I have known each other a long time - it's something that we are very excited about and can't wait to get started."

Known for his defensive line coaching and recruiting abilities, Hoke was fired at Michigan in 2014 after four seasons as the head coach. DeBord, a sports administrator at Michigan at the time, took over the day-to-day aspects of the football program until Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh.

Michigan’s defense greatly improved in Hoke’s first two seasons, going from 108th in scoring defense and 110th in yards allowed before he arrived to ranking among the top 20 in both categories. Michigan won 11 games in Hoke’s first season and he earned national coach of the year honors.

But Michigan’s win totals steadily decreased and Hoke was eventually fired after finishing 5-7 in 2014. During his four seasons, Michigan went 1-3 against rivals Ohio State and Michigan State.

Prior to Michigan, Hoke was the head coach at San Diego State and his alma mater Ball State. He has a 78-70 all-time record in 12 seasons as a head coach.

Hoke was the defensive line coach at Grand Valley State, Western Michigan, Oregon State and Michigan and the linebackers coach at Toledo.

Hoke signed a three-year deal at Oregon worth a guaranteed $1.8 million. Hoke earned a $3 million buyout after being fired from Michigan.

Wells served as a quality control coach on offense this past season for UT. The Nashville native has more than 21 years of coaching experience as an offensive line coach and coordinator with previous stops at Eastern Kentucky (1997-2002, 2015), New Mexico State (2014), South Florida (2013) and Western Kentucky (2003-12).

"I would like to thank Coach Jones for giving me this opportunity. I'm looking forward to getting to work with our offensive staff and our group of offensive linemen as we continue to develop in the spring," Wells said in a statement. "We have a solid nucleus of players returning and a group of young players eager to learn and make an impact this season."

Stripling moves into his new program development role after spending four years as the associate head coach/defensive line coach at UT. Prior to UT, Stripling was a member of Jones' staffs at Central Michigan and Cincinnati.

"I'm really excited about this new opportunity. I have enjoyed the past four seasons at Tennessee and I'm looking forward to continuing to see this football program grow into one of the best in the country," Stripling said in a statement. "It's a chance for me to be heavily involved in all areas of the football program on a daily basis. I think I can be a valuable resource to Coach Jones, our players and coaching staff."

More UT football headlines:

• Chris Spognardi, who had been on paid leave, fired by Tennessee
• From praying to celebrating, former Vol Justin Coleman basks in Super Bowl win
• Joshua Dobbs says goodbye to Tennessee football in Players' Tribune essay
• GoVols247 | Todd McShay: Joshua Dobbs could be a guy to watch for Browns
• John Adams: Vols will go on with song in their five-star hearts
• Butcher ending UT football career with medical exemption