JOHN ADAMS

John Adams: Has Butch Jones just met the man who will fire him?

John Adams

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Remember how excited you were the last time you got a new boss?

Coach Butch Jones speaks during a VFL Career Night at Smokey's Grill inside the Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, February 23, 2017. The career night aimed at bringing together former Tennessee players in businesses to speak with current players about future career paths outside of football.

Of course, you don’t. Only crazed optimists become excited about a new boss – unless the new boss is their daddy.

The natural reaction to a new boss is dread. Never mind how flawed your previous boss might have been. You know a new boss could be even worse.

So, you likely empathized with Tennessee football coach Butch Jones this past week when he was introduced to his new boss, athletic director John Currie.

Football coaches have more reason to be concerned about a new boss than the average working stiff. Why? Because they have more to lose.

Coaches making more than $4 million a year, as Jones is, don’t think, “Why should I worry? I’m set for life.” Instead, they’re more apt to suffer panic attacks at the thought of making only $3 million.

I could offer false reassurance and write something like, “Jones and Currie might turn out to be best buds. And five years from now, they will be smoking cigars together in celebration of the Vols ending their losing streak to Alabama.”

But the harsh reality is that when Jones met Currie, he probably met the man who was going to fire him. That’s just the way it goes in college football. And Tennessee is no exception.

UT athletic director Bob Woodruff hired Johnny Majors as football coach. Woodruff’s successor, Doug Dickey, fired Majors.

Dickey hired Phillip Fulmer as Tennessee’s football coach. Dickey’s successor, Mike Hamilton, fired Fulmer.

Hamilton hired Derek Dooley as football coach. Hamilton’s successor, Dave Hart, fired Dooley.

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Hart hired Jones after the 2012 season. After going 5-7 in his first season at UT, Jones ended Tennessee’s four-year streak of seven-loss seasons with a 7-6 record. He has followed that up with back-to-back nine-win seasons.

That would warrant a contract extension and hefty raise if Jones were at Kentucky. But with all of UT’s resources, more is expected, especially since the Vols should have won the SEC East in each of the past two seasons.

When an athletic director hires a coach, he has a vested interest in that coach’s success. In the toughest of times, he will look for reasons to keep that coach.

In the same situation, a new AD is more apt to look for reasons to fire the coach.

Fundraising is one of Currie’s strengths, and he knows there’s no better way to raise funds at an SEC school than with a championship football team. And a Music City Bowl championship doesn’t count.

For Jones’ sake, Tennessee needs to win the East this season or look really good not winning it. Otherwise, his new boss, who has a great reputation as a financial manager, might wonder why $4 million of his yearly budget is going to a football coach he didn’t hire.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @JohnAdamsKNS.

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